114 THE MATURE-STUDY REVIEW [i, 3, may 1905 



active part in the industry of the hive, he should not be blamed 

 for this as he is unfitted by nature for toil. He has no wax- 

 glands, so he cannot secrete wax ; his tongue is short so he cannot 

 gather honey from flowers; he has no pollen-baskets on his legs, 

 so he cannot gather and make bee-bread; he has no sting, so he 

 cannot fight the enemies of the colony. He is an aristocratic 

 prince and his one duty is to go finally on his travels and seek 

 some waiting princess. If he does not do this successfully and 

 hangs around the hive after the honey season has passed, his 

 sisters may be seen attacking him with fierce jaws and stings to 

 put an end to his idle existence. 



While studying the bees in an observation hive the pupils should 

 also study the relation of bees to flowers, and to learn the value 

 of these messengers which carry pollen from bloom to bloom. 

 In order to study a flower from this standpoint, the following 

 questions should be asked: Where is the nectar in the flower? 

 Where in relation to the nectar glands are the pollen and the 

 stigma? How does the bee come in contact with pollen and 

 stigma in order to reach the nectar? 



Suggestions for the Use of the Observation Hive 



If possible get Italian bees for the observation hive as they are 

 more gentle than the black bees. 



Place the hive in a window above or away from the street or 

 school-yard. 



Do not keep the glass uncovered more than is absolutely 

 necessary. 



If the hive becomes too populous close it at night and take it 

 to the nearest bee-keeper and let him take off some of the bees 

 from the frame. 



If you see the worker bees fighting, it means that robbers are 

 attempting to get at the stores of the observation hive. The 

 entrance to the hive should at once be contracted by placing a 

 block of wood in front, so that there is room for only one bee at 

 a time to pass in and out. 



