CHAPTEll X. 



THE HISTORY OF A IIIT3IBLE-BEE. 



"I WONDER if we have killed the queen-bee? Ah, 

 no ! here she is, burrowed in tlie grass under tlie cells." 



Disturbed by my intruding finger the royal lady 

 issued from her retreat, and began promenading the 

 top of the cells with restless steps. She was at least 

 three times as large as the nurse-bees, being fully an 

 inch and a quarter long. She was an object of great 

 interest to all our party, and as she at once set to work, 

 quite oblivious of our presence, to straighten out the 

 damage done to the cells, she received numerous com- 

 pliments whose edge was greatly sharpened against the 

 disparaging contrast with the unfortunate drones. 



"We are fortunate in possessing the queen," I re- 

 marked. "We can now hive our colony and observe 

 the bees' habits more closely." 



" Couldn't you have done that without the queen ?" 

 asked Abby. 



"The colony might have kept together for a little 

 while united in care of the grubs ; but the queen seems 

 to be the bond of union with these insects. The whole 

 life of the family centers upon the rearing and care of 

 the j^oung, to which duties the queen-mother is very 

 necessary. Besides, I fancy tliat her experience. 



