144 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



whole life in forests, for the purpose of examin- 

 ing them. But it was not until the invention of 

 glass hives, a hundred and thirty years ago, that 

 their proceedings could be distinctly observed. 

 Since that time they have been carefully studied 

 by many naturalists, who have spared neither 

 time nor labor in ascertaining the important facts 

 respecting them. 



Three kinds of bees are found in the hive: 

 the queen bee, the drones, and the working 

 bees. 



The queen bee is the mother of the family, 

 and governs the hive ; the drones are males, 

 and live a life of idleness, taking no part in the 

 labor of the household ; while the workers build 

 the cells, take care of the young, collect the ho- 

 ney, and perform all the labor of the family. 



You know the honey combs are made of wax; 

 and no doubt you have all noticed the beautiful 

 regularity of the little cells that form them. 

 These cells are six-sided, the form which is 

 better suited to the purposes of the bee than 

 any other, because they fit together so perfectly 

 that not a particle of wax is wasted, and they 

 have the largest space with the least material. 



