The Life of the Bee 



hang from the crook of a branch ; and the 

 comb will be lengthened, the queen lay 

 her eggs, provisions be stored, with no 

 shelter other than that which the work- 

 ers' own bodies provide. Our Northern 

 bees have at times been known to revert 

 to this instinct, under the deceptive influ- 

 ence of a too gentle sky ; and swarms have 

 been found living in the heart of a bush. 

 But even in the Indies, the result of 

 this habit, which would seem innate, is 

 by no means favourable. So considerable 

 a number of the workers are compelled to 

 remain on one spot, occupied solely with 

 the maintenance of the heat required by 

 those who are moulding the wax and rear- 

 ing the brood, that the Apis Dorsata, 

 hanging thus from the branches, will con- 

 struct but a single comb ; whereas if she 

 have the least shelter she will erect four 

 or five, or more, and will proportionately 

 increase the prosperity and the population 



374 



