THE niBTORY OF A HUMBLE-BEE. 163 



energy and aid are important factors in leadership and 

 labor for the mechanical duties of the family, such as 

 excavating and upholstering the cave and building the 

 cells. But you shall have a chance to observe these 

 matters for yourselves presently." 



A rough hive was soon made as follows : One side of 

 a small packing-box was filled with loose sods cut out 

 in digging for the nest ; the other side was partly filled 

 with soil, on which the cluster of cells was laid in the 

 midst of its swathing of curled hay. A large pane of 

 glass was laid atop of this, leaving openings for the 

 bees to escape into the air. The hive was placed near 

 the original site of the nest, and we stationed ourselves 

 close by to watch. As the afternoon was now well ad- 

 vanced some of the worker bees were coming home. 

 They were titterly confused at not finding the gate of 

 their nest, flew round and round, settled here and there 

 in vain search and rose again to resume their restless 

 circles. Not one entered the box until 1 finally re- 

 moved the glass. In a few minutes thereafter half a 

 dozen large workers, with the little bags upon their 

 legs laden with yellow pollen, dropped into the nest and 

 settled down beneath the cells without any sign appar- 

 ent to us of excitement or surprise. 



Meanwhile, however, the queen was laboring with vast 

 energy. She seized bits and bunches of the upholstery 

 in her mandil)les, and pulled and pushed with her feet 

 with the intention of burying the cells. Small workers, 

 nurses or "minor workers," about half the size of the 

 queen, who diflered from the major workers in size, 



