


352 THE INSECT WORLD. 
sss. He was only able, with his gun, to drive away the 
iseful birds, whilst the bee-eaters showed themselves indifferent 
to the smell of gunpowder: they seemed to be invulnerable. 
One day, as the proprietor, quite puzzled as to what he should 
do, was trying to find out some means of getting rid of these 






































































































































































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Fig. 323.—Sentinel Bees guarding the entrance to the hive. 
enemies, he all of a sudden heard a great buzzing. A few bees 
which had luckily escaped from the voracious beaks of their feathered 
aggressors, had lost no time in spreading the alarm in the hive, 
and in demanding that vengeance should be taken. A regular 
army of threatening bees directed their course, in perfect order, 
against two of these birds which had been pointed out for attack. 
The birds had the best of it, and gorged themselves on the 
phalanx ; and again took up their position whilst the bees, 


