CLEAE WINGS. 39 



Next these come the sthiging insects, 

 Bees and Wasps, Sandwasps and Pismires 

 All of them with feet fivejointed. 



First of these, the Bees, Apina, 

 Called by authors Anthophila, 

 Or in English flowerlovers, 

 For they fly among the flowers, 

 Bevelling in all their sweetness, 

 Gathering pollen, sucking nectar, 

 Changing these to wax and honey ; 

 Building cells with skilful neatness, 

 Waxen cells, and aU sixsided, 

 Waxen cells to hold their young ones. 

 Many live in crowded cities. 

 Many thousands in a city, 

 Like a kingdom or a queendom. 

 Female sovereign, drones and workers. 

 Their antennfe stout and elbowed ; 

 Fore wings flat and never folded ; 

 Hind shanks flattened out and bristly, 

 Formed for carrying loads of poUen ; 

 Body joined by a peduncle, 

 Armed with sting acutely stinging. 



Next the Bees, the Wasps, Vespina, 

 Make the cells but not the honey. 

 Build with skill their spacious mansions, 

 Build then' cells and combs with paper. 

 Paper of the finest texture, 



