60 CLASSIFICATION, PHYSIOLOGY, ETC. 



developed, its integuments hardened and consolidated, 

 and as soon as it is qualified it bursts its fetters, and 

 is introduced to a new career of existence ; from hav- 

 ing been a mere worm, it becomes a sportive inhabit- 

 ant of the air and enters upon new scenes and new 

 enjoyments. 



" The working bee-nymph spins its cocoon in 

 thirty-six hours. After passing about three days in 

 this state of preparation for a new existence, it grad- 

 ually undergoes so great a change as not to wear a 

 vestige of its previous form, but becomes armed with 

 a firmer mail and with scales of a dark brown hue 

 fringed with light hairs. On its belly six rings 

 become distinguishable, which, by slipping one over 

 another, enable the bee to shorten its body whenever 

 it has occasion to do so ; its breast becomes entirely 

 covered with gray feather-like hairs, which, as the 

 insect advances in age, assume a reddish hue. 



" When it has reached the twenty-first day of its 

 existence, counting from the moment the egg is laid, 

 it quits the exuviae of the pupa state, comes forth a 

 perfect winged insect, and is termed an imago. The 

 cocoon or pellicle is left behind, and forms a closely 

 attached and exact lining to the cell in which it was 

 spun ; by this means the breeding cells become smaller 

 and their partitions stronger the oftener they change 

 their tenants ; and when they have become so much 

 diminished in size by this succession of pellicles or 

 linings as not to admit of the perfect development of 

 full-sized bees, they are converted into receptacles 

 for honey. 



