266 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Hn ruble bees. 



every field and perched on every flower. They 

 build their nest in holes in the ground, of dry 

 leaves, mixed with wax and wool, defended with 

 moss from the weather. Each humble-bee makes 

 a separate cell, about the size of a small nutmeg, 

 which is round and hollow, containing the honey 

 in a bag. Several of these cells are joined to- 

 gether, in such a manner, that the whole appears 

 like a cluster of grapes. The females, which 

 have the appearance of wasps, are very few, and 

 their eggs are laid in cells, which the rest soon 

 cover over with wax. It is uncertain whether 

 they have a queen or not ; but there is one much 

 larger than the rest, without wings, and without 

 hair, and all over black, like polished ebony; 

 This goes and views all the works from, time to 

 time, and enters into the cell, as if it wanted to 

 see whether every thing was done right : in the 

 morning, the young humble-bees are very idle, 

 and seem not at all inclined to labour, till one 

 of the largest, about seven o'clock, thrusts half 

 its body from a hole, designed for that purpose, 

 and seated on the top of the nest, beats its wings 

 for twenty minutes successively buzzing the 

 whole time, till the whole colony is put in mo- 

 tion. The humble-bees gather honey, as well 

 as the common bees ; but it is neither so fine, 

 nor so good, nor the wax so clean, or so capable 

 of fusion. 



