HIVE-BEES. 87 



from some of their cells, and spread it on the board of the 

 hive. The bees soon discovered both the farina in the 

 combs and what we had exposed to them. They crowded 

 to the cells, and also descending to the bottom of the hives, 

 took the pollen grain by grain in their teeth, and conveyed 

 it to their mouths. Those that had eaten it most greedily 

 mounted the combs before the rest, and stopping on the 

 cells of the young worms, inserted their heads, and re- 

 mained there for a certain time. M. Burnens opened one 

 of the divisions of the hive gently, and powdered the 

 woi'kers, for the purpose of recognising them when they 

 should ascend the combs. He observed them during 

 several hours, and by this means ascertained that they 

 took so great a quantity of pollen only to impart it to their 

 3'oung. Then withdrawing the portions of comb which 

 had been placed by us on the board of the hive, we saw 

 that the pollen had been sensibly diminished in quantity. 

 They were returned to the bees, to augment their provision 

 still further, for the purpose of extending the experiment. 

 The royal, as well as several common, cells were soon 

 closed ; and, on opening the hive, all the worms were 

 found to have prospered. Some still had their food before 

 them ; the cells of others that had spun were shut with a 

 waxen covering. 



" We witnessed these facts repeatedly, and always with 

 equal interest. They so decisively prove the regard of the 

 bees towards the grubs which they are intrusted with 

 rearing, that we shall not seek for any other explanation 

 of their conduct. Another fact, no less extraordinary, and 

 much mol'e difficult to be accounted for, was exhibited by 

 bees constrained to work in wax, several times successively, 

 from the syrup of sugar. Towards the close of the experi- 

 ment they ceased to feed the young, though in the be- 

 ginning these had received the usual attention. They even 

 frequently dragged them from their cells, and carried them 

 out of the hive."* 



Mr. Wiston, of Germantown, in the United States, men- 

 tions a fact conclusive on this subject. " I had," says he, 

 * Hubcr on Bees. 



