into the Bee's cells. I was not mistaken: the works were in
full swing.

[Footnote 5: Thursday is the weekly holiday in French
schools.--_Translator's Note_.]

In front of a high expanse of earth, a swarm stimulated by the sun,
which floods it with light and heat, is dancing a crazy ballet. It is
a hover of Anthophorae, a few feet thick and covering an area which
matches the sort of house-front formed by the perpendicular soil. From
the tumultuous heart of the cloud rises a monotonous, threatening
murmur, while the bewildered eye strays through the inextricable
evolutions of the eager throng. With the rapidity of a lightning-flash
thousands of Anthophorae are incessantly flying off and scattering
over the country-side in search of booty; thousands of others also are
incessantly arriving, laden with honey or mortar, and keeping up the
formidable proportions of the swarm.

I was at that time something of a novice as regards the nature of
these insects:

"Woe," said I to myself, "woe to the reckless wight bold enough to
enter the heart of this swarm and, above all, to lay a rash hand upon
the dwellings under construction! Forthwith surrounded by the furious
host, he would expiate his rash attempt, stabbed by a thousand
stings!"

At this thought, rendered still more alarming by the recollection of
certain misadventures of which I had been the victim when seeking to
observe too closely the combs of the Hornet (_Vespa crabro_), I felt a
shiver of apprehension pass through my body.

Yet, to obtain light upon the question which brings me hither, I must
needs penetrate the fearsome swarm; I must stand for whole hours,
perhaps all day, watching the works which I intend to upset; lens in
hand, I must scrutinize, unmoved amid the whirl, the things that are
happening in the cells. The use moreover of a mask, of gloves, of a
covering of any kind is impracticable, for utter dexterity of the
fingers and complete liberty of sight are essential to the
investigations which I have to make. No matter: even though I leave
this wasps'-nest with a face swollen beyond recognition, I must to-day
obtain a decisive solution of the problem which has preoccupied me too
long.

A few strokes of the net, aimed, beyond the limits of the swarm, at
the Anthophorae on their way to the harvest or returning, soon
informed me that the Sitaris-larvae are perched on the thorax, as I
expected, occupying the same position as on the males. The
circumsta