THE HONEY BEE FAMILY 33 



does not go at once to the field, but remains 

 within the hive for several days. At fii-st she 

 is as downy as a little chick and probably does 

 nothing for a day or two. Soon, however, she 

 begins her w^ork as a nurse to the larvse, which 

 is probably her first duty. She shortly takes 

 hold wherever a task needs attention, whether it 

 be to feed the queen or drones, clean the hive, 

 build combs, guard the entrance to the hive, or 

 fanning to keep up a circulation of air, or any 

 of the many duties necessary to care for such a 

 large family. 



After a few days the young workers will 

 take short flights outside the hive, thus becom- 

 ing famihar with surrounding conditions. At 

 first they fly back and forth in front of the hive, 

 never going more than a few feet from the en- 

 trance. With several hundred workers taking 

 their first flights on a warm day, there is an 

 appearance of gi^eat activity and the novice 

 may be deceived into thinking that there is 



