394 THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



narrow swaddling-clothes, and comes forth a bee. 

 The wax cover is gnawed by the inclosed insect as 

 well as by the working-bees lending a ready hand 

 to the resuscitated; and the hive counts one more 

 citizen. The new-born bee makes its toilet a little, 

 dries its wings, polishes its body, and is off to work. 

 It knows its trade without having had to learn it: 

 wax-bee in its youth, nurse in its old age." 



