His habits were erratic, showing an impatience that disdained restraint within the bounds of precedental usage. Still his affectionate desire to confer public benefits attracted a grateful solicitude whenever his absence was unusually prolonged. But as he rarely returned without some valuable acquisition, confidence in his ability for self-protection waived anxiety. At length an absence of two months without communicating with his family, aroused public sympathy to such a pitch that a search was decided upon. In preparation the citizens of Maniculæ had collected in the anthemique to consult upon the most feasible means of conducting the search. When the direction was decided upon, and they were issuing forth for its prosecution, they were startled by the gyrations of an apis isolata (solitary bee) in close proximity to their heads. After a few eccentric evolutions which excited a commensurate degree of alarm, their fears were relieved by a shout of laughter in the jovial tones of the absentee, who, by a skillful direction, caused the bee to alight in their midst. When sufficiently assured of freedom from danger, his parents and the Dosch approached near enough to obtain a view of his mechanical appliances for guiding his prize. Between the wings of the bee, upon his back, a net with latticed films, supported in dome shape by stiff fibres, was attached. This turret was retained in place by filaments, which passed beneath his body, in the articulation between the body and thorax, so that his movements and winged action were not impeded. To the antennæ, on either side, were attached filamental guides, or reins, for directing his course, the proximal extremities being coupled within the pilot cone. When assured of the strength and security of the attachments, the Dosch and parents of Buzzee ventured on a short experimental flight. As the insect circled, in company with his mate, to gain a bee line, the daring volantaph caused him to execute a variety of intricate evolutions, which at first alarmed his passengers, who expostulated with him in reproof for his temerity. But when he explained his wish to show them how completely the movements of the bee were under his control, they no longer offered objections, their fears being turned to admiration. When satisfied that air flights could be conducted with more ease, safety, and swiftness, beyond the most sanguine expectations of ancient or modern Manatitlan prognosticators, his enterprise was highly commended. When landed the Dosch and advisors expressed a desire, in behalf of the people, to listen to a relation of his adventures in the anthemique, as it would be the means of avoiding rehearsals from hearsay, with the defects that of necessity were attendant upon individual versions. An hour before evening song the anthemique was thronged with the citizens of Maniculæ anxious to hear Buzzee’s relation of the expedients used for a capture so important in