put, under a glass bell, about a dozen humble bees, without any store of wax. He gave them at the same time a comb, with about ten silken cocoons, but so unequal in height, that it was impossible the mass could stand firmly. Its unsteadiness evidently occasioned extreme disquietude. Affection impelled them to cluster over the cocoons for the sake of imparting warmth to the enclosed little ones; but in attempting this, the tottering of the comb threatened a fearful downfall. What was to be done? the objects of their solicitude must not be left to perish. Two or three bees instantly mounted the tottering comb, stretched themselves over its edges, and firmly fixed their fore feet on the table, with their heads downwards, whilst with their hind feet they kept it from falling. In this constrained and painful posture, fresh bees relieving their weary comrades, did these affectionate little insects support the comb for nearly three days. At the end of this period, they had prepared a sufficiency of wax, with which they erected pillars, that kept it in a firm position.

From what source did this extraordinary adaptation of means to produce a desired effect result? -from instinct? Certainly not; for instinct never varies. Mere instinct could not obviate a difficulty which had perhaps never occurred before, since the creation. These little architects were guided by that gleam of reason, which it has

pleased the Creator to assign them; they dexterously supported a tottering edifice till their waxen pillars were in readiness.

The last duty of the affectionate foster-parents is to assist the young bees in cutting open the cocoons, which have enclosed them in a pupa state. When emerged, the working bees turn even the empty cocoons to a useful purpose. They cut off the silken fragments from the orifice, strengthen it by means of a ring or elevated tube of wax, and coat them internally with a lining of the same material. These, when completed, resemble small goblet-like vessels, and are filled with honey or pollen.

It is interesting to observe the assiduity of the humble bees, when about to construct their little citadel. They seek about for a soft flexile bed of moss conveniently situated, and when found, five or six of the strongest and most active place themselves upon it in a file, turning the hinder part of their bodies towards the site of their intended

erection. The first takes a small portion, which it felts together with its jaws and fore legs. When the fibres are sufficiently entangled, it pushes them beneath its body by means of the first pair of legs, the intermediate pair receives the moss, and delivers it to the last, which sends it as far back as possible. A small ball of well-carded moss is then formed, which the second bee also pushes to its neighbour; this consigns it to the next, and thus it safely reaches the foot of the nest, much in the same way as a file of labourers transfer a parcel of cheeses from a cart or vessel to a warehouse. A great saving of time ensues from this well-contrived division of labour; the structure rises much more rapidly than if each had been employed in first carding his materials, and then transferring them to the spot.

This curious structure contains, when completed, four orders of individuals. Large females, original founders of the republic, the smaller ones distinguished solely by their diminutive size, males, and workers. They are quiet, affectionate creatures, and seem to live in great harmony among themselves, and in good will to their neighbours. M. Huber relates a pleasing anecdote of some hive-bees paying a visit to the nest of their humble relatives, in order to steal or beg their honey, which places in a strong light the good

temper of the latter. This happened in a time of scarcity. The hive-bees had pillaged and taken possession of the nest. A few of the residents, that still remained, went out to collect provisions, and brought home the surplus, after supplying their immediate wants. This the hive-bees were also desirous to obtain, but they could not procure it by force. They began to lick the humble-bees, presented to them their probosces, surrounded and at length persuaded them to part with the contents of their honey-bags. The humble-bees then flew away to collect a fresh supply. The hive-bees did them no harm, they never offered to sting, and it really seemed as if they had persuaded these goodnatured insects to supply their urgent wants. This remarkable manoeuvre was practised for, at least, three weeks, when a colony of wasps being attracted by the same cause, the humble-bees thought it time to leave the neighbourhood.*

The affection, which these interesting creatures evince towards their young, is more permanent than in many of the insect tribes. They accompany them in their flight till they are fully grown, and lead them to the pleasant labours of the honey fields. I once saw an humble, or as it should be called, an humming-bee, asleep in the rich crimson corolla of a dahlia, with its foot firmly clasping a

* Hub. Nouv. Observ. ii. 473. Hub. Lin. Tran. ii. 115, 298.

little one, lest it should fall from its dangerous elevation. They were pleasantly resting from their morning toil, on a couch that art might vainly attempt to equal.

Our meadows are now additionally enlivened with the cranesbill, corn-poppy, and viper-bugloss ; the fields and road-sides with mullein, fox-glove, thistle, and mallow; buck-beans and willowherbs flower profusely along the water side; and in thickets the wood-spurge and wood-pimpernel. That singular plant, the bee-flower, is generally open on the common; and at Dudcombe, a single tuft of the beautiful fly orches.