100 



It is not at all times however, that the bees are thus 

 cruel to the supernumerary females ; but only at the 

 time \vhen they are newly established in their habi- 

 tation, and in want of aH things. At other times 

 they are as kind to strange females as to their own. 

 Mr. Reaumur tried the experiment, by putting a 

 strange female into a hive, where the combs were 

 .perfect, and filled with honey. And the bees shewed 

 the same respect to her, as to their proper sovereign. 



The bee.that comes loaded to any cell, soon dis- 

 charges his honey into it. No sooner is he gone, than 

 another comes, and so on, tiil the whole cell is filled. 

 But that which lies uppermost is always of a different 

 appearance from the rest of the honey. It is a kind 

 of cream, which both keeps the honey moist, and pre- 

 Tents its running out by accident. 



This crust or cream was not, as one would think, 

 TOided last, but was gathering from the first. For 

 the bee which comes loaded to the cell, does not at 

 once discharge his honey, but entering into it as deep 

 as may be, thrusts out his fore legs, and pierces a 

 hole through the crust. Keeping this open with his 

 feet, he disgorges the honey in large drops from his 

 jnoulh. He tfcen closes the hole, and this is regularly 

 done by every bee that contributes to the common 

 store. 



But every bee that comes loaded to the hive, does 

 not deposit his honey in the cell. They often dispose 

 of it by the way. Instead of going to any cell, they 

 often go to those that are at work, and call them to 

 feed upon the honey they have brought, that they 

 may not be obliged to intermit their work, on the 

 account of hunger. These feed on the store of the 

 friendly bee, by putting their trunk into her mouth, 

 exactly in the same 'manner as they do into the bot- 

 tom of flowers. 



Some cells in every hive contain honey for imme- 

 diate consumption, as in case of bad ^weather. And 

 these are always open at the topi Others contain 

 their provision for the winter. These are all closed 



