172 ANTS, BEES AND WASPS 



are interested in the lore of the bee there are numerous delightful 

 works by recognised authorities on the subject. 



If we examine a bee-hive in the early days of the year, when 

 winter is giving place to spring, we shall find that it contains a 

 queen-mother and a certain number of workers, the survivors 

 of the late broods of the previous year, who are just beginning to 

 bestir themselves and awaken from the torpid condition in which 

 they have passed the cold winter months. Bees do not hibernate 

 in the true sense of the word; they cluster closely together in 

 the centre of the hive with their precious queen-mother in their 

 midst, and take food at intervals all through the winter, although 

 only just enough to keep life within them ; and whenever the sun 

 shines warmly for a few hours they leave the hive for a short, 

 cleansing flight. As soon as spring sets in they rouse themselves 

 and begin to put the hive in order for the year's work : some leave 

 the hive to fetch supplies of water, from the nearest stream or the 

 dewdrops on the grasses for water is absolutely necessary for the 

 work of the hive at all its stages ; combs are examined and repaired ; 

 and the dead bodies of the bees who have died during the winter are 

 carried out of the hive. The bees now take advantage of every 

 hour of sunshine to send forth foraging parties to seek pollen and 

 nectar to replenish their diminished stores ; the comb-builders 

 set to work to build new combs ; brood cells are prepared, and 

 the queen lays the first few eggs of the year in them. Day by 

 day as spring advances the bees grow more active, and soon the 

 hive is humming With life. 



In the beginning of the season the queen-mother lays but a 

 few eggs each day, but as spring advances and the combs are being 

 well filled with honey and pollen the number is increased, and in 

 the height of the honey season a healthy queen may lay as many 

 as 3,000 eggs a day. The number of eggs laid is regulated accord- 

 ing to the requirements of the colony ; when work is plentiful, and 

 many labourers needed, the workers keep the queen steadily at 

 her task ; but should the weather become cold and wet, so that 

 the bees are not able to leave the hive to fetch provision, egg- 

 laying at once decreases or stops altogether. 



The eggs hatch as helpless, egless grubs, entirely dependent 

 on the workers, who feed them from their mouths, at first with 

 " bee-milk/' a thick white fluid composed of honey and pollen 



