BEE-KEEPING. 



151 



ing to the bottom of the hive, removes the substance which 

 Fig. 49. has now become wax. Each bee fol- 



lows in its turn, and deposits its con- 

 tribution, which is directly made use 

 of by the architects in building the 

 cells. 



A WAX-WOEKEB. The honey-cells are all six-sided, and 



of the most perfect regularity. Were they squares, or trian- 

 gles, or circles, they would Fig. so. 

 not fit as closely together, 

 consequently there would 

 be a waste of room. 



"There is a substance 

 called bee bread, which is 

 necessary to the life of the 

 bee. It is made from pol- 

 len, but is entirely unlike 

 wax. In securing it, the 

 bee darts into a flower, 

 and covers its body with the yellow dust. Now it must con- 

 trive some way to get rid of it, and God has made the last joint 

 but one of each leg like a brush. These brushes are passed all 

 Fig. 51. O ver the body, and the pollen is collected 



in two little heaps. The thighs of the last 

 pair of the bees' legs are furnished with 

 two cavities, and these make nice little bas- 

 kets to carry home their treasure. The 

 dust collected from a thousand flowers is 

 now kneaded into little balls, and when 

 these have increased to the size of a grain 

 of pepper, the bee flies home, and enters 

 the cell head foremost. The balls are then 

 BEE'S LB MAGNIFIED, taken from the baskets, and, being moist- 

 ened with a little honey, become bee bread."* 



Student and Schoolmate. 



