78 THE BROOD. 



viscous matter covering them, for three days ; on the 

 fourth, the shell, or thin enveloping membrane, 

 bursts, and a small lively worm is deposited at the 

 bottom. The nursing-bees instantly enter upon their 

 vocation, and administer a copious supply of liquid 

 food of which farina, honey, and probably water, 

 are the ingredients. As the larva increases in growth, 

 the attention of the Bees in nourishing it is augmented, 

 and indeed unremitting ; for at whatever time we in- 

 spect a brood-comb, we shall observe hundreds of 

 nurses with their bodies inserted in the cells supply- 

 ing the wants of the infant progeny. Although in 

 the vermicular state, and consequently without feet, 

 the larvse are capable of moving in a spiral direction. 

 During the first three days, their motion is so slow as 

 to be scarcely perceptible, but it afterwards becomes 

 more evident, and they have been observed to per- 

 form two complete revolutions in less than two hours. 

 The slightest movement of the nurse-bees approach- 

 ing to minister to their wants, is sufficient to attract 

 them to their food, which they devour most vora- 

 ciously, and it is unsparingly lavished upon them. 

 At first the liquor is nearly insipid, but acquires gra- 

 dually a perceptible flavour of honey, and becomes 

 more and more saccharine and transparent in pro- 

 portion as the larva advances in growth. " It is in- 

 describable/' says Feburier, " the care which the 

 workers lavish on these little nurslings, towards whom 

 they seem to cherish the tenderest attachment. A 

 comb filled with brood, and placed in an empty hive, 

 never fails to retain them there, to the utter disregard 



