2O4 The Book of Bugs. 



offense. Then the grub turns to its former position, 

 spins its cocoon and sleeps. When it cuts its crescentic 

 door in the- capping of its cell and crawls forth, a gray 

 and staggering thing, but a grown bee, it must be flying 

 in the air to discharge its bowel contents. 



Drones are brought forth in large numbers too 

 large, it would seem, since a colony with six or eight 

 thousand drones will perhaps rear no more than two 

 queens that mate but once in their lives. But it is neces- 

 sary that the queen shall certainly meet a strong-winged 

 lover when she flies forth. Her embrace is fatal to him. 

 As for the other idlers and Alphonses, they are killed off 

 when summer roses fade. The workers come back to 

 the hive almost empty. 



" My! " puffs one bee. " I'm about tuckered. Hunted 

 high and low and look what a little dab I got." 



' Me, too," answers another. ' In all my life, and I'm 

 nearly four weeks old, I never saw times so hard and 

 honey so scarce. Here, you! Get out of the way till I 

 put my honey in that cell." 



The drone takes his time about moving. 



Why'n't you get your own honey?' snaps the 

 worker. 



: Huh? " grunts the drone stupidly, wiping his mouth. 



' Why'n't you get your own honey? Lazy, good-for- 

 nothing thing! Us poor girls has to slave early and late 

 just to feed you, you loafer." 



' A-a-a-ah, go chase yourself! You're too fresh!' 

 snarls the drone, shambling away. 



1 What's that? Did you hear what he said to me? 

 Well, of all things! For half a cent I'd- I will, too. 

 Get, now! Clear out o' this! ' 



' Got as much right here as you have," growls the 

 drone. 



