THE HUMBLE BEES 



OF these beautiful creatures we have thirteen 

 kinds in this country. Their velvety clothing 

 and bright colours make them the favourites 

 of most people. They are most industrious 

 and may be seen on the wing from early morning 

 often till quite late on summer evenings, whereas 

 the solitary bees do not, as a rule, commence 

 work till nine or ten in the morning, except in 

 very hot weather, and generally retire about four 

 or five p.m. There is an idea prevalent that 

 humble bees do not sting, but this is fallacious. 

 They can sting pretty severely, but I do not 

 think they are so ready to use their defensive 

 weapon as a wasp or hive bee is. The length 

 of the tongue in these creatures makes them of 

 great value to the farmer and gardener, as they 

 can fertilize the red clover and probably other 

 flowers which require a longer tongue to reach 

 the nectary than is possessed by the hive bee. 



