THE INHABITANTS OF THE HIVE 43 



than wit, they dance a Httle gUde back and forth, 

 and fan as if they thought they were really accom- 

 plishing something. 



The young worker usually takes her first flight 

 when she has had her wings for about a week; she 

 runs out on the threshold of the hive on some pleasant 

 afternoon, and may be easily recognised, as she is 

 callowness incarnate. She runs around a little, 

 giving the impression of holding on with all her six 

 feet as if scared, and then she lifts herself gingerly 

 to see whether she truly can use her wings; then she 

 circles around in great joy and learns to know well 

 the place where her hive stands. About a week later 

 she goes out into the wide world to seek her fortune 

 and is likely to come back with a little load of pollen 

 on her legs. When she comes back thus laden 

 she buzzes around before alighting, and then rushes 

 into the hive excited and delighted with her achieve- 

 ment, and as Mr. Root says so graphically, ** tries her 

 best to show off." Soon after, she becomes a staid 

 worker and plays her part in the economy of the hive 

 by bringing in honey, pollen, and propolis, secreting 

 wax if need be, ready to defend her colony at the cost 

 of her life, and so courageous that she as readily 

 attacks a man as a mouse. Later it may fall to her 

 lot to become executioner of her brother drones, or to 

 devote herself to the queen and help lead out the 

 swarm; or, by some mysterious election of the hive, 

 she may be sent as a scout to find a proper home 

 for her queen and her colony after they have 

 swarmed. She is at the height of her powers and 



