A ROMANCE OF ANATOMY i6i 



ward, or from side to side, she changes her centre 

 of gravity, and the line of force of her aeroplanes, 

 at one and the same time. Actually her body 

 keeps its vertical position, being her heaviest 

 part, and it is the lighter wing-supporting thorax 

 which is deflected. But the result is the same, 

 and every variety and direction of flight is accom- 

 plished by the bee on what seems a far more simple 

 plan than that evidenced in the flight of birds. 



One of the most difficult things to account for 

 in the life of the honey-bee is the fact that the 

 temperature of the hive can be varied at the will 

 of its occupants. The system of mechanical 

 ventilation will, of course, explain how the hive is 

 kept cool in the greatest heats of summer, but it 

 does not explain the sudden accessions of heat to 

 which it is liable from time to time. These occur 

 principally when the wax is being generated. 

 Under the bronze armour-plates of her body the 

 worker-bee has six shallow, but broad depressions, 

 beneath which the wax-glands are placed. Perfect 

 rest and a high temperature seem to be necessary 

 for the stimulation of these glands, and the wax- 

 makers consume a large quantity of sweet-food 

 during the process. It is generally stated that 

 bees fill themselves from the stores of mature 

 honey before uniting in the cluster ; but it is more 

 probable that the food consumed during wax- 

 making is principally the nectar, almost as gathered 

 from the flowers. This view is confirmed by cer- 

 II 



