CHAPTER XII. 



POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD. 



" POLLEN is the fine fecundating dust or fine sub- 

 stance, like flour or meal, contained in the anther of 

 flowers, which is dispersed on the stigma for impreg- 

 nation."* 



Bees collect large quantities of this substance and 

 store it in their combs : to do this, they fly from flower 

 to flower, gathering and forming the fine flour-like 

 substance into two pellets in their fossae (or basket) 

 which is a slight indentation, surrounded by short 

 hairs, on their hind legs. In doing this the particles 

 are first gathered in their mandible and then slightly 

 moistened and compressed ; it is then taken in small 

 particles with the fore feet and constantly passed 

 back as gathered, and made to adhere in the fossae 

 till finally their load is completed, presenting the ap- 

 pearance as shown in plate I, fig. 9. They then 

 return to their hives and either use it immediately 

 or deposit it in their cells, each of which they only 

 partly fill : much of it is suffered to remain unsealed 



* N. Webster. 



