THE HONEY-BEE. 131 



stance abroad. On the third day of their confinement, 

 a loud noise was heard in the interior of the hive, and 

 on examining it, all was found in confusion the 

 brood was abandoned the bees ran in disorder over 

 the combs thousands rushed towards the entrance, 

 and gnawed at its grating. The same symptoms of 

 disorder showed themselves on the two following 

 days, at which time the bees were allowed to escape, 

 and the combs examined. The cells were found all 

 vacant, and the brood had died, doubtless of hunger. 

 Was the want of farina the cause of this cata- 

 strophe ? To decide the point, Huber supplie4 the 

 same hive with fresh brood and abundance of farina, 

 and confined them as before. Next day, they were 

 observed busily employed in consolidating the brood 

 combs that had been given them ; and having dis- 

 covered the farina, they were seen crowding to the 

 cells containing it, extracting a supply, hurriedly 

 mounting the combs, stopping at the cells containing 

 brood, inserting their heads, and remaining in that 

 position a considerable time. On the following day 

 he inspected the combs, and found that all the larvae 

 had jelly, as in ordinary circumstances ; that they 

 had grown in size, and that some had been closed up 

 to undergo their transformation into nymphs. Thus 

 it is placed beyond all doubt that the young bees are 

 nourished chiefly by that fine powdery substance which 

 is found in the anthers of flowers, and is indispensable 

 to their fecundity. Nature, ever wise and provident 

 has so disposed matters, that the insects which sub- 

 sist on farina should be able to avail themselves of it 



