THE BEES 



Who has watched a honeybee getting honey and 

 pollen out of the flowers?" The bee thrusts a long 

 tongue down into the flower cup and brings it back 

 all covered with yellow pollen. And have you ever 

 seen the little pockets or baskets which she has on 

 her two hind legs and into which she puts the yellow 

 poUen as she gets it? Isn't it funny to think of a 

 bee with little baskets fastened to her legs? 



The next time you see a honeybee or a bumble- 

 bee, watch ever so closely and perhaps you can see 

 her put that pollen into those little baskets on her 

 legs. Quickly she brushes the pollen off her tongue 

 with the combs of hairs on her fore legs, then she 

 brushes it off her fore legs with her middle legs, and 

 then with the feet of her middle legs she pats it down 

 hard into the little baskets. 



You will have to watch sharply^ for the bee is very 

 quick and nimble. She cannot spend her precious 

 time just packing away the pollen, she must gather 

 all she possibly can while the sun is out and the 

 flower cups are open. When well laden she flies 

 for home where she unloads the pollen in great haste, 

 kicking it out of each basket with the other hind 

 foot, then off she goes again to gather more. 



Sometimes it takes a great while for her to get a 

 load, perhaps a whole morning; and yet she never 



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