176 PtRFECT SOCIETIES OF IXSECTS. 



their internal labours, in the care and nurture of the 

 youn^; the construction of their combs ^; and their 

 proceedings with respect to their queens and their 

 paramours. It will therefore change the scene a little, 

 if we accompany them in their excursions to collect the 

 various substances of which they have need''. On these 

 occasions the principal object of the bees is to furnish 

 themselves with three different materials : — the nectar 

 of jflowers, from which they elaborate honey and wax ; 



' Vol. I. 2d Ed. r,'5~- and 484— 



'' The follo'.ving beautiful lines by Professor Smith are extreme!\ ap- 

 plicable to this part of a bee's labours : 



" Thou rlierrfiil Bee ! coaie, freely conie, 

 * And travel round my woodbine bower ! 



Delight me with thy wandering hum. 



And rouse me from my musing hour; 

 Oh ! try no more those tedious fields, 

 Come taste the sweets my garden yields: 

 The treasures of each blooming mine, 

 The bud, the blossom — all are tiiine. 



" And careless of this noon-tide heat, 



I'll follow as thy ramble guides ; 

 To watch thee pause and chafe thy feet. 



And sweep them o'er thy downy sides: 

 Then in a flower's bell nestling lie, 

 And all thy envied ardor ply ! 

 Then o'er the stem, tho' fair it grow, 

 Vf ith touch rejecting, glance, and go. 

 " O Nature kind ! O labourer wise ! 



That roam'st along the summer's ray, 

 Glean'st every bliss thy life supplies. 



And meet'st prepared thy wintry day I 

 Go, envied go — with crowded gates 

 The hive thy rich return awaits; 

 Bear home thy store, in triumph gay. 

 And shame each idler of the day." 



