Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1875 — Intelligence of Bees. [ARTICLE]

Intelligence of Bees.

A writer in the London Spectator vouches for the truth of the so lowing story, which certainly shows that bees have the power of commimicating with each other, and also of concerting a sagacious and successful plan of action: A boy, amusing himself with a pet jackdaw in the garden one evening, approached an aviary, and the bird hopped on the platform in front of one of the hives. The bees had nearly all come home from their day’s labor, but the few laggards hovering about their door as Jack stood beside it were instantly snapped up by him. This massacre had continued for a minute or so when some bees iasued from the door cf the hive as if to reconnoiter. They were dispatched like the rest and then* there came an ominous pause. No bee made himself visible, but there was a loud, angry hum of excitement within the hive. Presently there poured from the outlet ot the citadel a swift, strong, unbroken stream of bees aimed directly at the offending jackdaw. He was attacked on every side, and, overpowered by numbers, fled at once; but rapidly as he shot away he could but keep neck and neck with his pursuers, that like a cloud enveloped him for the distance of nearly a mile. He then fell fluttering to the earth and the boy picked him up with his eyes closed and his head swollen to twice its natural size. < What is the use of sentencing a man to prison for life when the Good Book says that the wicked shall not live out half their days? ' Mrs. Snipe, of Galveston, took her husband’s throat in her teeth the other day. He’ll get a snipe with less bO} if he marries again.