808 



A HISTORY OF 



hard enough to form into candles, as in Eu- 

 rope. 



Of insects that receive the name of bees 

 among us, there are several; which, however, 

 differ very widely from that industrious social 

 race we have been just describing. The 

 Humble-Bee is the largest of all this tribe, 

 being as large as the first joint of one's mid- 

 dle finger. These are seen in every field, 

 and perched on every flower. They build 

 their nest in holes in the ground, of dry leaves, 

 mixed with wax and wool, d'-fended with moss 

 from the weather. Each humble-bee makes 

 a separate cell about the size of a small nut- 

 meg, which is round and hollow, containing 

 the honey in a bag. Several of these cells 

 are joined together in such a manner, that the 

 whole appears like a cluster of grapes. The 

 females, which have the appearance of wasps, 

 are very few, and their eggs are laid in cells, 

 which the rest soon cover over with wax. It 

 is uncertain whether they have a queen or 

 not; but there is one much larger than the 

 rest, without wings and without hair, and all 

 over black, like polished ebony. This goes 

 and views all the works, from time to time, 

 and enters into the cell, as if it wanted to see 

 whether every thing was done right. In the 

 morning the young humble-bees are very idle, 

 and seem not at all inclined to labour, till one 

 of the largest, about seven o'clock, thrusts 

 half its body from a hole designed for that 

 purpose, and seated on the top of the nest, 

 beats its wings for twenty minutes successive- 

 ly, buzzing the whole time, till the whole 

 colony is put in motion. The humble-bees 

 gather honey, as well as the common bees; 

 but it is neither so fine nor so good, nor the 

 wax so clean, or so capable of fusion. 



Beside the bees already mentioned, there 

 are various kinds among us, that have much 

 the appearance of honey-m ikers, and yet 

 make only wax. The Wood-Bee is seen in 

 every garden. It 5s rather larger than the 

 common queen-bee ; its body of a bluish 

 black, which is smooth and shining. It be- 

 gins to appear at the approach of spring, and 

 is seen flying near walls exposed to a sunny 

 aspect. This bee makes its nest in some 

 piece of wood, which it contrives to scoop 

 and hollow for its purpose. This, however, 

 ie never done in trees that are standing, for 



the wood it makes choice of is half rotten. 

 The holes are not made directly forward, but 

 turning to one side, and have an opening suf- 

 ficient to admit one's middle finger, from 

 whence runs the inner apartment, generally 

 twelve or fifteen inches long. The instru- 

 ments used in boring these cavities, are their 

 teeth ; the cavity is usually branched into 

 three or four apartments ; and in each of 

 these they lay their eggs, to the number of 

 ten or twelve, each separate and distinct from 

 the rest: the egg is involved in a sort of puste, 

 which serves at once for the young animal's 

 protection and nourishment. The grown 

 bees, however, feed upon small insects, par- 

 ticularly a louse, of a reddish brown colour, 

 of the size of a small pin's head. 



Mason-Bees make their cells with a sort of 

 mortar made of earth, which they build 

 against a wall that is exposed to the sun. 

 The mortar, which at first is soft, soon be- 

 comes as hard as stone, and in this their eggs 

 are laid. Each nest contains seven or eignt 

 cells, an egg in every cell, placed regularly 

 one over the other. If the nests remain un- 

 hurt, or want but little repairs, they make use 

 of them the year ensuing : and thus they often 

 serve three or four years successively. From 

 I the strength of their houses, one would think 

 I these bees in perfect security; yet none are 

 more exposed than they. A worm with 

 very strong teeth, is often found to bore into 

 their little fortifications, and devour their 

 young. 



The Ground-Bee builds its nest in the 

 earth, wherein they make round holes, five 

 or six inches deep; the mouth being narrow, 

 and only just sufficient to admit the little in- 

 habitant. 



Itisamusingenough to observe the patience 

 and assiduity with which they labour. They 

 carry out all the earth, grain by. grain, to the 

 mouth of the hole, where it forms a little hil- 

 lock; an alps, compared to the power of the 

 artist by which it is raised. Sometimes the 

 walks of a garden are found undermined by 

 their labours ; some of the holes running di- 

 rectly downward, others horizontally beneath 

 the surface. They lay up in these cavities 

 provisions for their young, which consist of a 

 paste that has the appearance of corn, and i 

 of a sweetish taste. 



