DOMESTIC ANIMALS 337 



somewhat spiteful when aroused and must be handled with 

 care. 



The Syrians are very much like the Cyprians. They are hardy 

 and vigorous and produce a great deal of honey. 



The Bee Colony. Bees live together in colonies and make 

 their homes in hives prepared for them. These hives are usually 

 made in two parts, the lower part being designated as the bee 

 stand and the upper part as the cap. The stand has a small 

 opening at the bottom sufficiently large to admit only a few 

 bees at a time. At the top of the bee stand is another opening 

 of moderate size for the admission of the bees to the cap. Both 

 sections of the hive are fitted with comb racks for the support 

 and attachment of the honeycomb. Each hive should be placed 

 on a small platform and in a sheltered place where it will escape 

 the violence of the wind and storms. Wild bees use hollow 

 trees and crevices in rocks as places in which to make their homes. 



Their first energies are devoted to the making of comb, and 

 later this is filled with honey. Sometimes bee keepers assist bees 



Drone. Worker. Queen. 



Honey bees. 



in this work by providing them with an artificial comb so that the 

 bees may spend all their time in making honey. Natural honey- 

 comb when not removed from time to time gradually grows dark 

 or yellowish brown. 



In the early part of the year each hive will be found to contain 

 three classes of individuals: (1) the workers; (2) the drones; and 

 (3) the queen. Each colony will contain one full-grown queen, 

 a few hundred drones, and from forty to fifty thousand workers. 



The Workers. The working bees are females and are the 

 smallest in the hive. On them falls all the work incident to keeping 

 up the hive. They make the comb, the honey, the beebread, and 

 care for the young bees while in the form of larvae. The bee cells 



PRAC. AGRICUL. 22 



