BEES AND HORNETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4861, 28 November 1883, Page 4

BEES AND HORNETS.

♦ (Land ancl Water.) As I was returning from a walk on tho Hawkley road reoently, accompanied by two friends, our attontion waß attracted by what appeared, at first sight, to be a email duster of bees rolling about in the middlo of the path ; but on looking at them more attentively we discovered that a large hornet was the oentre of the living ball, and that be wbb doing his bost to got away I from three honey bees whioh wore clinging I on to his body, whilst a fourth momber of the ,

hive made savage darts at him in all quarters. He seemed when we first . saw him pretty strong, kept crawling onwards with hie load of bees towards some short grass at the side of the road, and at laat gained a small dent,, or hole, when he freed himself for a moment from his foes, but was evidently too weak te . ' rise on the wing. Iwo more bees then ap* [ . peered on the battlefield, aod the struggle [' again began, when the hornet, after being pulled out of his retreat by the united efforts of the bees,,gave up the contest, and died, or at any rate, lay perfeotly still ; and one of the beea, thinking, no doubt, that onr curiosity had bsen sufficiently gratified, turned its attention to ourselves. Knowing that there were hives in a oottago garden very near us, and not feeling certain but what the same sentinel that had evidently brought aid to the ! first four fighting bees,- might not again bring a regiment to attaok my friends and self. I very hurriedly called out to retreat ; and our watohf ul little bee actually accompanied us to the door of the village shop. Query, had this hornet been near the hives, and on being driven baok by the beea, did he fly into the ' road with some of them on hia baok, falling ! when their atinga began to take effeot ; or will bees attaok a foe away from home P '