which are to pass the winter in this state, are covered with hair, which is not the case in summer, affording another proof of that Providence with which naturalists are struck at every step." Now, the very same thing occurs among various tribes of caterpillars, though it is by no means the case with all insects that pass the winter in this form. Even those which envelope themselves in silken shrouds, have generally this additional protection, of which the caterpillars of the brown-tail moth and mallow butterfly are instances. Some are thickly clothed with hair, a remarkable example of which occurs in the caterpillar of the drinker moth, whose very feet are covered with fine shaggy down. This insect does not become torpid in winter; and, as it feeds on grass, it can always find plenty of food. "When a fine sunny day chances to break in upon the gloom of winter, this pretty insect may be often seen stretched at its full length on a low twig, or the withered stem of a nettle, basking in the sunshine with apparent delight.'

"

Some insects survive the winter in their perfect state, but these are comparatively few. Several species of the genus Vanessa are of this number; but it is observed by Mr Rennie, that this can only be positively affirmed of the female. It is certain, however, that, even in this state, insects will bear an almost incredible degree of cold with impunity. We extract two instances recorded in the publication of Mr Rennie, on Insect Transformations, already alluded to.† "In Newfoundland, Captain Buchan saw a lake, which, in the evening, was entirely still and frozen over; but, as soon as the sun had dissolved the ice in the morning, it was all in a bustle of animation, in consequence, as was discovered, of myriads of flies let loose, while many still remained infixed and frozen round." A still more striking instance is mentioned by Ellis, in which " a large black mass, like coal or peat upon the hearth, dissolved, when thrown upon the fire, into a cloud of mosquitoes (Culicida)."

* Insect Transformations, p. 193.

† Ib. p. 406.

One other remarkable instance I shall mention, not only because it relates to another form of the hybernating principle, but also because it throws light upon a passage of Scripture, which naturalists were inclined to consider as founded on mistake. The passage is from the Proverbs of Solomon, whose wisdom and intelligence the infidel would be glad to impugn if he could:

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise; which having no guide, overseer, nor ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."* It has been alleged, that the ant has no such instinct; that indeed if she had, it would be altogether useless to her, as, in winter, she falls into a state of torpidity; and that Solomon must, therefore, have mistaken for her winter store, the larvæ of this insect, which she tends with much assiduity, and which are found carefully deposited in her nest. But it is gratifying to the pious mind to observe in how many instances the discoveries of science throw light on the difficult passages of Scripture; and prove the accuracy of its statements, even in matters of natural history, which it incidentally notices. Of these instances this is one. It is true that, in climates such as that of Europe, where the cold of winter is intense, the ant does fall into a state of torpidity; and, as if she anticipated this state, she makes no provision for the severity of winter. But it is different, at least with one species of ant, in India, named by Mr Hope the Provision Ant, as is stated by Mr Kirby, on the authority of Colonel Sykes. "These ants," says Mr Kirby, "after longcontinued rains, during the monsoon, were found to bring up, and lay on the surface of the earth, on a fine day, their stores of grass-seeds, and grains of Guineacorn, for the purpose of drying them. Many scores of these hoards were frequently observable on the extensive parade at Poona. This account," he adds, “clearly proves that, where the climate, and their circumstances,

*Proverbs vi. 6.

require it, these industrious creatures do store up provisions." The storing propensity of the ant, thus attested, serves to indicate the accuracy of Solomon's information; and, after this discovery, there can be little doubt, that, though the naturalist, who is too little acquainted with the animals of the Holy Land, has not yet ascertained the fact by actual observation, these insects do, in that country, follow a similar instinct, during its mild winter.

The immense variety of the insect tribes, and the inexhaustible resources of the Author of Nature in accommodating their instincts and functions to their peculiar circumstances and condition, precludes the possibility of comprising any thing like a particular detail of the manner in which the various tribes are enabled to pass the winter months, within the bounds we have prescribed to ourselves. The above sketch will suffice to afford some insight into these wonderful and diversified provisions, and to direct the reader to inquiries which will amply repay his industry, and which he will find grow upon him at every step. Some observations on the hybernation of the honey-bee, the snail, and the beetle, which will be found in subsequent papers, must close my observations on this part of the history of insects. Their still more astonishing faculties and modes of existence, in the other seasons of the year, shall be considered afterwards.

SEVENTH WEEK-THURSDAY.

HYBERNATION OF BEES.

AMONG insects, there is none more commonly known, or more universally admired for its extraordinary instincts, than the honey-bee. Of these instincts, such as are intended for its preservation during winter, come particularly under our notice at present; but it may be

proper to premise a few words as to the general state and economy of this wonderful insect. The inhabitants of a hive have been usually divided into three distinct classes, viz. the queen, the drones, and the workers; but it has been recently discovered that there is yet another distinct class, or at least that the working-bees may be divided into two separate tribes or castes, called Nursebees and Wax-workers. This last distinction, which is not generally known, was ascertained by M. Huber, and is too curious to be passed over, especially as it is on the wax-workers that the provision of winter food entirely devolves. The business of the nurse-bees, which are somewhat smaller than the wax-workers, is to collect honey for the immediate subsistence of those which do not leave the hive, as well as of the young grubs, of which latter they seem to have the special charge; and also to give the finishing touches to the cells and combs left imperfect by the others. The duty of the waxworkers, on the other hand, is to provide cells, in which the queen may deposit her eggs, and reservoirs, in which they may store the honey for future use; and it has been found, by accurate observation, that the one caste does not interfere with the functions of the other. offices of the queen and of the drones are well known, the former being the absolute monarch of the hive, and the mother of its progeny; the latter being all males, and intended by nature for the fecundation of the queen. Of the drones, it is said that there are not more than the proportion of 100 to a hive consisting of 5000 or 6000. Of the latter, though several are produced, only one is permitted to live, this autocrat bearing no rival near her throne.

The

Such being the remarkable constitution of this industrious community, let us now see in what manner they are directed by the Author of their instincts to secure themselves against the sterility of the winter months. First of all, it seems to be a law of this little commonwealth, that no idlers shall be permitted to exist. The

drones contribute nothing to the wealth of the hive. They have fulfilled their part as soon as the queen is rendered fruitful; and, when this important point has been gained, and the hive has been secured in the means of future increase, or, at least, before any serious and united effort is made to complete the winter's provision, the unfortunate drones are condemned to utter extermination. In July or August, the whole working-classes seem to be suddenly seized with a deadly fury towards the unproductive part of the great family. They chase their unhappy victims from every place of refuge, till at last they are brought to the bottom of the hive, where they are indiscriminately massacred, their bodies being transfixed with many wounds, and then thrown lifeless out of the hive. So great is their antipathy, at this time, to the whole race of drones, that they simultaneously destroy the male larvæ, and tear open the cocoons of their pupæ, in order to devote them to one common destruction. "This destruction of the males, however," says a writer in the Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "is not the effect of a blind and indiscriminating instinct; for, if a hive be deprived of its queen, the massacre does not take place, while the hottest persecution rages in all the surrounding hives. In this case, the males are allowed to survive one winter." The providential design of this doubtless is, that, should a young queen be reared, she may find a husband.

No sooner has the hive got rid of the incumbrance of the drones, than they commence, with the greatest assiduity, to lay up their winter stores. During the preceding months of summer, honey was to be found in great abundance, being yielded by almost every flower; and they had partly availed themselves of that season of exuberance, to replenish their cells. But they had not set about the matter in good earnest ;—they had considered it as a pastime, rather than as a task :—when they poured the delicious food into their cells, it would seem to have been rather with the view of disgorging a too