SOCIAL LIFE 



79 



ant 



FIG. 64. Head and mouth-parts 

 of worker bee. Eye, compound 

 eye ; ant, antennse ; Ib, labium ; 

 md, mandible ; g, maxilla ; Ip, 

 labial palpi ; pg, paraglossa ; /, 

 tongue or glossa. 



from generation to generation, so 

 that certain tees have to-day the 

 reputation of being kind, gentle 

 and tractable, and others irrita- 

 ble, easily disturbed, and ever 

 ready for a fray. They are 

 characterized as industrious and 

 frugal. They are not, however, 

 at all times possessed of integ- 

 rity, for if the nectar from the 

 flowers becomes scarce they are 

 wont to look about for some 

 weak neighboring colony to rob 

 of its small and feebly defended 

 store of sweets. 

 Have you ever seated yourself by the side of a colony 

 and watched the comings and goings of the bees ? Have 

 you seen the pollen baskets, well laden, being taken into 

 the hive ? Have you ever seen the young ones go forth 

 to establish themselves in housekeeping? These are 

 some things which you must see in order to appreciate 

 them ; so arrange with some beekeeper in your neighbor- 

 hood for a visit to his apiary. He, I am sure, will be 

 only too glad to act as your instructor during your visit. 

 When there examine the honeycomb proper, and the 

 brood comb, containing workers, drones, and queens. 

 Make a drawing of the shape of the mouths of each one 

 of these cells. Is the shape of these mathematically 

 accurate ; that is, is each of them a true hexagon ? 



Swarming.- - The young bees are hatched in such num- 

 bers in the spring that the old hive cannot longer accom- 

 modate all of them. This, together with the mortal jeal- 



