THE BEE. 



517 



venom-bag, and the sting. The honey-bag 

 is as transparent as crystal, containing the 

 honey that the bee has brushed from the 

 flowers ; of which the greater part is carried 

 to the hive, and poured into the cells of the 

 honey-comb, while the remainder serves for 

 the bee's own nourishment ; for, during sum- 

 mer, it never touches what has been laid up 

 for winter. The sting which serves to defend 

 this little animal from its enemies, is compos- 

 ed of three parts ; the sheath and two darts, 

 which are extremely small and penetrating. 

 Both the darts have several small points or 

 barbs, like those of a fish-hook, which render 

 the sting more painful, and make the darts 

 rankle in the wound. Still, however, this 

 instrument would be very slight, did not the 

 bee poison the wound. The sheath, which 

 has a sharp point, makes the first impression ; 

 which is followed by that of the darts, and 

 then the venomous liquor is poured in. The 

 sheath sometimes sticks so fast in the wound, 

 that the animal is obliged to leave it behind ; 

 by which the bee soon after dies, and the 

 wound is considerably inflamed. It might 

 at first appear well for mankind, if the bee 

 were without its sting ; but upon recollection, 

 it will be found, that the little animal would 

 then have too many rivals in sharing its la- 

 bours. A hundred other lazy animals, fond 

 of honey, and hating labour, would intrude 

 upon the sweets of the hive ; and the treasure 

 would be carried off for want of armed guard- 

 ians to protect it. 



From examining the bee singly, we now 

 come to consider it in society, as an animal 

 not only subject to laws, but active, vigilant, 

 laborious, and disinterested. All its provisions 

 are laid up for the community ; and all its 



hive gently, and powdered the workers, for the purpose 

 of recognizing them when they should ascend the combs. 

 He observed them during several hours, and by this 

 means ascertained that they took so great a quantity of 

 pollen only to impart it to their young. Then with- 

 drawing the portions of comb which had been placed by 

 us on the board of the hive, we saw that the pollen had 

 been sensibly diminished in quantity. They were re- 

 turned to the bees, to augment their provision still far- 

 ther, for the purpose of extending the experiment. The 

 royal, as well as several common cells were soon closed ; 

 and, on opening the hive, all the worms were found to 

 have prospered. Some still had their food before them ; 

 the cells of others that had spun were shut with a waxen 

 covering. We witnessed these facts repeatedly, and al- 

 ways with equal interest. They so decisively prove the 

 regard of the bees towards the grubs which they are en- 

 trusted with rearing, that we shall not seek for any other 

 explanation of their conduct. Another fact, no less ex- 

 traordinary, and much more difficult to be accounted for, 

 was exhibited by bees constrained to work in wax, seve- 

 ral times successively, from the syrup of sugar. Towards 

 the close of the experiment they ceased to feed the young, 

 though in the beginning these had received the usual 

 attention. They even frequently dragged them from 

 their cells, and carried them out of the hive." 



arts in building a cell, designed for the bene- 

 fit of posterity. The substance with which 

 bees build their cells, is wax ; which is fash- 

 ioned into convenient apartments for themselves 

 and their young. When they begin to work 

 in their hives, they divide themselves into 

 four companies : one of which roves in the 

 fields in search of materials ; another employs 

 itself in laying out the bottom and partitions 

 of their cells; a third is employed in making 

 the inside smooth from the corners and angles ; 

 and the fourth company bring food for the rest, 

 or relieve those who return with their respec- 

 tive burdens. But they are not kept constant 

 to one employment ; they often change the 

 tasks assigned them : those that have been at 

 work, being permitted to go abroad; and those 

 that have been in the fields already, take their 

 places. They seem even to have signs, by 

 which they understand each other ; for when 

 any of them wants food, it bends down its 

 trunk to the bee from whom it is expected, 

 which then opens its honey-bag, and lets some 

 drops fall into the other's mouth, which is at 

 that time open to receive it. Their diligence 

 and labour is so great, that in a day's time 

 they are able to make cells, that lie upon each 

 other, numerous enough to contain three thou- 

 sand bees. 



If we examine their cells, they will be found 

 formed in the exactest proportion. It was 

 said by Pappus, an ancient geometrician, that 

 of all other figures, hexagons were the most 

 convenient; for when placed touching each 

 other, the most convenient room would be 

 given, and the smallest lost. The cells of the 

 bees are perfect hexagons : these, in every 

 honey-comb, are double, opening on either 

 side, and closed at the bottom. The bottoms 



m 



Port of Honey-comb with Queen's cell. 



are composed of little triangular panes, which, 

 when united together, terminate in a point, 

 and lie exactly upon the extremities of other 

 panes of the same shape, in opposite cells. 

 These lodgings have spaces, like streets, be- 

 tween them, large enough to give the bees a 

 free passage in and out ; and yet narrow en- 

 ough to preserve the necessary heat. The 

 mouth of every cell is defended by a border, 

 which makes the door a little less than the in- 

 side of a cell, which serves to strengthen the 



