THE HALICTI 211 



them, seven, or more, according to the chances of 

 mortality. To whose share will the maternal dwelling 

 fall? 



There is no quarrel between the interested parties. 

 The mansion is recognized as common property without 

 dispute. The sister Bees come and go peacefully through 

 the same door, attend to their business, pass and let the 

 others pass. Down at the bottom of the pit, each has her 

 little demesne, her group of cells dug at the cost of fresh 

 toil, when the old ones, now insufficient in number, are 

 occupied. In these recesses, the rights of individual pro- 

 perty prevail : each mother works privately, jealous of her 

 belongings and her isolation. Every elsewhere, traffic is 

 free to all. 



The exits and entrances in the working fortress provide 

 a spectacle of the highest interest. A harvester arrives 

 from the fields, the brushes of her legs dusted with pollen. 

 If the door be open, the Bee at once dives underground. 

 To tarry on the threshold would mean waste of time ; 

 and the business is urgent. Sometimes, several appear 

 upon the scene almost at the same moment. The passage 

 is too narrow for two, especially when they have to avoid 

 any inopportune contact that would make the floury 

 burden fall to the floor. The nearest to the opening enters 

 quickly. The others, drawn up on the threshold in the 

 order of their arrival, respectful of one another's rights, 

 await their turn. As soon as the first disappears, the 

 second follows after her and is herself swiftly followed by 

 the third and then the others, one by one. 



Sometimes, again, there is a meeting between a Bee 

 about to come out and a Bee about to go in. Then the 

 latter draws back a little and makes way for the former. 

 The politeness is reciprocal. I see some who, when on 



