AT THE CITY GATES 59 



pollen-gathering is that she deems a certain shade 

 of colour makes a more becoming flying-robe, 

 as that she keeps each load of pollen pure, un- 

 blended, because of some imperious, economic 

 need of the hive. The factor of sex, in all obser- 

 vation of the ways of the honey-bee, is no more to 

 be considered a negligible one than it is in the 

 critical contemplation of the human species of hive. 

 All this incessant coming and going of the busy 

 foragers is alluring enough to the looker-on, but 

 there is evidence of many other activities equally 

 interesting. The work of collecting nectar and 

 pollen is obviously only a part of the duties of this 

 self-immolated spinster-race. Here and there in 

 the seething, hurrying crowd there are bees who 

 do not move with the rest, but, anchored securely 

 in the full force of the living current, with heads 

 lowered and turned towards the hive, are engaged 

 in fanning their wings, and this so swiftly that 

 nothing of the wing but a little grey mist can be 

 seen. Looking more carefully, you will make out 

 that these bees are arranged in nearly regular 

 rows, one behind the other, in open order, so that 

 the conflicting tides of foragers can pass uninter- 

 ruptedly between. If the watcher is bold enough 

 to bring his ear down to the level of the hive, he 

 will make out a steady hissing noise that rings 

 clear above all the din and turmoil made by the 

 incessant travellers to and fro. These rows of 

 fanners are seen to stretch from the hive-door 



