56 



BEES. 



Fig. 51. HONEY-BEE. 



sent a peculiar conformation of the 

 hind legs, which is characteristic of 

 them ; the first articulation of the tarsus 

 of these legs is very large, compressed 

 in form of a palette and armed with a 

 silky brush ; on the external side of 

 the leg or tibia there is also a depres- 

 sion bordered by hairs, named a basket; 

 the insect makes use of these organs 

 for collecting the pollen of flowers. Honey-bees are distinguished 

 from other social bees by the absence of spines on the extremity 

 of the hind legs. 



9. Of all insects that live in society these are the most interest- 

 ing to us ; for by their admirable industry we are furnished with 

 honey and wax. These little animals establish their dwellings in 

 some cavity, such as holes in trees, or in a kind of cage which 



farmers prepare for them, called a hive. 

 The inhabitants of each hive or colony 

 formed by bees are for the most part work- 

 ers or drones ; during a part of the year 

 we also find a certain number of males; 

 but only one female resides among them, 

 and she is the sovereign, the Queen. The 

 working bees perform all the labour ; they 

 collect pollen and honey, build the cells of 

 wax in which are deposited the eggs and 

 provisions of the community, take care of 

 the young and defend the hive from ene- 

 mies. The males, commonly called drones, 

 are only useful for a short time, and before 

 autumn the workers destroy them without pity. The cells just 

 mentioned are in form of a little hexagonal cup, and constitute by 

 their union in series, regularly placed in rows one above the other, 

 back to back, masses whose regularity and finish always excite 

 our admiration (Jig. 52) : they are called honey-comb, and there 

 are two kinds of cells ; the common (a) and the royal cells (b). 



10. When the period for laying arrives, the Queen, now an 

 object of respect and of the most assiduous care on the part of 

 the workers, runs through the comb, examines the cells, and 

 deposits her eggs in them, first in those that are smallest (a) and 

 destined for the larvse of workers ; then in those of still larger 

 dimensions, which are designed to lodge the males ; and, lastly, in 

 those named royal cells (6), in consequence of their size and their 



9. What are the habits of bees ? 



10. Are the cells of a bee-hive all of the same size? What are royal 

 cells ? What is bee-bread ? 



Fig. 52. 



HONEY-COMB. 



