148 ANIMALS AT WORK AND PLA Y 



The triumph of the ' sweater's ' art is in inducing the 

 bees to fetch this enormous quantity of honey, with- 

 out neglecting the arrangements for storing it in 

 the hives. The honey, being liquid, must be bottled, 

 and the bees will only put in comb of the exact size 

 and texture which instinct has taught them. Comb- 

 making is also much lighter and safer work than 

 honey-gathering, with its dangers from storms, wasps, 

 and birds. Young bees are generally told -off for 

 the purpose, while their elders go a-field. But con- 

 science will not allow a bee to stay at home if he 

 is not wanted to work. The beekeeper therefore 

 makes it his business to provide ready-made founda- 

 tions for the cells, stamped in real wax, and of the 

 natural size. He also removes the combs full of 

 honey, spins them round in a tin churn, and replaces 

 them in the hive empty a hint which the bees take 

 as an invitation to refill them. The ancient task- 

 master said, ' Ye are idle, ye shall have no straw.' 

 The modern bee-master says, 'Ye are industrious, 

 here is the straw ready chopped.' The bees seem 

 delighted to make the most of the opportunities so 

 thoughtfully provided for them. By using the 

 mechanically stamped ' foundations ' for their cells, 

 they make a more perfect and symmetrical comb 

 than is often constructed without help. The bottoms 

 1 being regular, no ' crooked comb ' is ever built upon 



