NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 59 



seven months; but their age depends very much upon 

 their greater or less exposure to injurious influences, and 

 severe labors. Those reared in the Spring and early part 

 of Summer, upon whom the heaviest labors of the hive 

 devolve, appear to live not more than two or three 

 months* ; while those bred at the close of Summer, and 

 early in Autumn, being able to spend a large part of 

 their time in repose, attain a much greater age. It is very 

 evident that " the bee " (to use the words of a quaint old 

 writer), " is a Summer bird ;" and that, with the excep- 

 tion of the queen, none live to be a year old. 



Notched and ragged wings, instead of gray hairs and 

 wrinkled faces, are the signs of old age in the bee, and 

 indicate that its season of toil will soon be over. They 

 appear to die rather 'suddenly ; and often spend their last 

 days, and sometimes even their last hours, in useful labors. 



Place yourself before a hive, and see the indefatigable 

 energy of these industrious veterans, toiling along with 

 their heavy burdens, side by side with their more youth- ' 

 ful compeers, and then judge if, while qualified for useful 

 labor, you ought ever to surrender yourself to slothful 

 indulgence. Let the cheerful hum of their busy old age 

 inspire you with better resolutions, and teach you how 

 much nobler it is to die with harness on, in the active 

 discharge of the duties of life. 



The age which individual members of the community 

 may attain, must not be confounded with that of the col- 

 ony. Bees have been known to occupy the same domicile 

 for a great number of years. I have seen flourishing colo- 

 nies more than twenty years old ; the Abbe Delia Rocca 

 speaks of some over forty years old ; and Stoche says, that 

 he saw a colony, which he was assured had swarmed annually 



* If an Italian queen be given, in the working season, to a swarm of common 

 bees, in about three inoutlis only a few of the latter will be found in the colony. 



