NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. V 



CHAPTER V. 



THE HUMBLE BEE. 



Builds her oivn Habitation— Curious Division, of Labour — Remarkahfe 

 for Good-nature and Affection for her Young — Ingenuity in m;er- 

 coming Difficulties — The Carpenter- Bee—The Mason-Bee — The Up- 

 holsterer-Bee. 



There are other sorts of bees, whose history is 

 less imposing perhaps, but not less curious, than 

 that of the species which has been just detailed : 

 some of these live in societies ; but their limited 

 number, and the rudeness of their dwellings, when 

 compared with the populousness, the order, and 

 architecture of the hive, make us feel that we are 

 contemplating a village, after having seen a large 

 metropolis. The contrast, however, is interesting ; 

 and a true philosopher, after he has marked tlie 

 manners of a civilized kingdom, always finds his 

 knowledge enlarged by the observation of the sim- 

 pler habits of the rustic, or even the ruder customs 

 of the savage. The Humble Bee, so well known to 

 us, may be truly termed a villager. The community, 

 which numbers from twenty to three hundred, con- 

 sists of females of two sizes, the very largest, and 

 the small ones; males which are stingless, and 

 neuters. There is a jealousy between the small 

 and large females, but it does not appear that it is 

 of so deadly a nature as that which prevails among 

 the hive bees. Indeed, Reaumur says, that the 

 large ones live peaceably together in the same nest. 

 Like true rustics they are all born to labour. Here 

 there is no queen attended by a numerous guard, 

 enjoying the privilege of doing nothing except lay- 

 ing eggs, — nor idle males, subsisting upon the fruits 

 of the industry of others ; but, whether male, female, 

 or neuter, they all share alike the common labour. 



