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 long-continued 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 Guinea-corn, 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 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. And let it not be overlooked, that this is another instance of that remarkable adaptation of instinct to circumstances, of which the organized creation is full.

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 Nurse-bees 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. The 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 queens, though several are produced, only one is permitted to live, this autocrat bearing no rival near her throne.

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 per mitted 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 destrucThis 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

tion.

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 encumbrance 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 plentiful meal, and of relieving themselves from the ef fects of gluttony, than from any care about the future. They had been luxuriating in overflowing sweets, and were little careful of a coming season of scarcity

Now, however, the state of things is altered. Though the season is still fine, the honey-bearing flowers have begun appear in less plenty, and much remains to be done with di minished means. The young brood are fast vacating the cells, where they were hatched, and these cradles must now be converted into storehouses. All is bustle and animation. Not an idler is to be seen. The queen, like a presiding genius, hurries from place to place, to see that all are at their proper tasks. Some clean out the emptied cells, or rather smooth and prepare them, for the cocoons of the maggots are never removed; others repair the wax, where injured, or, if necessary, construct new depositories; while others again, fly far and wide in search of the honey and pollen, which are to form the treasure of the hive, and to preserve them from want in the winter, and early days of the future spring. The eagerness and industry of these tiny foragers, is quite delight ful. Not only do they rifle the nectaries of flowers, especial ly those of the clover and heath, but put in requisition the

ripening fruits, when pierced by birds, and the leaves of some trees, from which a saccharine fluid, at this season, exudes, and even the honey-dew, as it is called,—an excrement emitted by the aphides.

It sometimes happens, however, that an unfavourable harvest causes all these resources to fail, and a coming famine is anticipated. The bees are then thrown upon their shifts, and the law of self-preservation overcomes the respect which they seem otherwise inclined to show to the property of their neighbours. On these occasions,' says the author of the article in the Supplement to the Encyclopedia, already alluded to,' the distressed bees often betake themselves to plunder. Spies are sent out to examine the neighbouring hives. Allured by the smell of honey, they examine the appearance and strength of its possessors; and, selecting the weakest hive as the object of attack, they begin a furious onset, which costs great numbers their lives. If the invaders should fail in their attempt to force the entrance, they retreat, and are not pursued by those they have assailed; but if they succeed in making good the assault, the war continues to rage in the interior of the hive, till one party is utterly exterminated;-reinforcements are sent for by the invading army; and the bees from the neighbouring hives often join the assailants, and partake of the plunder. In a short time, the whole of the enemies' magazines are completely emptied. If, on the other hand, the invaders should be defeated, the successful party is by no means safe from the attacks of the bees from other hives, if any of them should chance to have mingled in the fray, and especially if they have once penetrated as far as the magazines; for, in that case, they are sure to return, accompanied with a large reinforcement; and the unfortunate hive that has been once attacked, ultimately falls a sacrifice to those repeated invasions.'

Meanwhile, the year advances, and the increasing cold warns the little commonwealth that it is dangerous to go abroad; and, indeed, the growing deficiency of their natural food, convinces them, before the end of autumn, that the pe