168 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



ImuuMliately she collects a small amount of pollen 

 mixed with honey, and in this deposits from seven to 

 fourteen eggs, gradually adding to the pollen mass until 

 the fn-st brood is hatched. 



"She does not wait for one brood to be hatched before 

 laying the eggs for a second. The eggs are laid in con- 

 tact with each other, in one cavity of the mass of pollen 

 with a part of which they are shghtly covered. As 

 soon as the larvje are capable of motion and commence 

 feeding they eat the pollen, by which they are sur- 

 rounded, and, gradually separating, push their way in 

 various directions. Eating as they move, and increas- 

 ing in size quite rapidly, they soon make large cavities 

 in the pollen mass. When they have attained their full 

 size they spin a silken wall about them, which is covered 

 by the old bees (after the first brood has matured) with 

 a thin layer of wax, which soon becomes hard, forming 

 the cells which we saw. The larvse now gradually 

 attain the pupa stage, and remain inactive until their 

 development. They then cut their way out, and are 

 ready to assume their several duties and stations as 

 workers, males or queens. As the colony grows the 

 nest is rapidly enlarged, until in the early fall it has 

 grown to the size which we saw. 



" In which estate." suggested Abby, " they are ready 

 for the final and chief end of beehood — to yield a mo- 

 mentary pleasure to a destructive boy armed with jugs, 

 paddles and wisps of hay." 



" Or," I added, " to gratify the curiosity of a raiding 

 naturalist and his friends." 



