190 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



of its life. It appears to know that it is born for so- 

 ciety, and not for selfish pursuits ; and therefore it in- 

 variably devotes itself and its labours to the benefit of 

 the community to which it belongs. Walking upon the 

 combs, it seeks for the door of the hive, that it may sally 

 forth and be useful. Full of life and activity, it then 

 takes its first flight; and, unconducted but by its instinct, 

 visits like the rest the. subjects of Flora, absorbs their 

 nectar, covers itself with their ambrosial dust, which it 

 kneads into a mass and packs upon its hind legs ; and if 

 need be, gathers propolis, and returns unembarrassed to 

 its own hive a . 



Instances of the expedition with which our little fa- 

 vourites accomplish their various objects you have had 

 several ; but this is never more remarkable than when 

 they settle in a new hive. At this time, in twenty-four 

 hours they will sometimes construct a comb twenty 

 inches long by seven or eight wide; and the hive will 

 be half filled in five or six days ; so that in the first fif- 

 teen days as much wax is made as in the whole year 

 besides b . 



In treating of the various employments of the bees, I 

 must not omit one of the greatest importance to them 

 the ventilation of their abode. When you consider the 

 numbers contained in so confined a space; the high 

 temperature to which its atmosphere is raised ; and the 

 small aperture at which the air principally enters, you 

 will readily conceive how soon it must be rendered unfit 

 for respiration, and be convinced that there must be 

 some means of constantly renewing it. If you feel dis- 

 posed to think that the ventilation takes place, as in our 

 a Reaum. v. 602. b Ibid. 658. 



