154 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



half an inch across and about three-quarters of an 

 inch deep. This filled, she is ready for the possible 

 advent of a bad day when she cannot steal a few 

 minutes from her nursing duties to fly to the 

 nearest flowers and obtain food. 



She now takes up her station over her cell, with 

 her face to the door, and actually incubates her 

 eggs. The grubs hatch out on the fourth day, 

 and set to work feeding upon the floor of the cell. 

 Each scoops out for itself a hollow in the pollen- 

 mass, and so that they shall not cut through it to 

 the exterior the mother bee collects more pollen 

 and plasters it all around the original heap. She 

 also makes a semi-fluid mess of pollen and honey, 

 and cutting a hole in the wax lid drops the mixture 

 in upon the grubs. 



Between these necessary expeditions for collecting 

 food she sits upon the brood mass, from which she 

 can reach with her long tongue to the honey-pot at 

 such times as she requires food for herself. Much 

 of this is used up in the production of heat to keep 

 up the temperature of the nest night and day. 

 The honey-pot is always undergoing changes when 

 it is in use. When full it is relatively tall and has 

 a small mouth. As the honey gets low so do the 

 walls of the pot in agreement, and when it is 

 refilled the walls are built up again. But after 

 about a month, when there are workers about to 

 assist the mother, the waxen pot is neglected and 

 falls into ruin. The honey is of a more fluid 

 character than that stored by the Honey Bee. 



