BEE. 
437 
not but believe were there placed by witchcraft, for 
the secret destruction of his lord and family. He 
had, after recovering from his first consternation, 
shown them to the curate of the parish, who was in- 
clined to be of a similar opinion, and advised him 
without delay to take a journey to Paris, and make 
his lord acquainted with the circumstance. This 
gentleman, though not quite so much alarmed as 
the honest gardener, could not feel himself at 
perfect ease, and therefore thought it advisable to 
consult his surgeon upon the business ; who, though 
a man of eminence in his profession, declared him- 
self utterly unacquainted with the nature of what 
was shown him, but took the liberty of advising that 
the Abbe Nollet, as a philosopher, should be con- 
sulted, whose well-known researches in natural 
knowledge might perhaps enable him to elucidate 
the matter. It was in consequence of this advice 
that the Abbe received the visit above mentioned, 
and had the satisfaction of relieving all parties from 
their embarrassment, by showing them several nests 
formed on a similar plan by other insects, and assu- 
ring them that those in their possession were the 
work of insects also. He opened some of the rose- 
leaf nests, showed them the inclosed larvae, and re- 
quested permission to send the remainder to M. 
Reaumur, who pursued their investigation with 
much eagerness, and soon completed the natural 
history of the animal.” 
There is a species of wild bee whose manners 
differ essentially from the rest, inasmuch as she 
