A Second Swarm — Idle Hours. 85 



those who were in favor of a swarm " had it." 

 Then began the same sort of orderly confusion des- 

 cribed before, and away flew the queen, with many 

 of her loving subjects, but without Buz. 



After the swarm had left, the latter felt disinclined 

 to work : she was a little upset, and wanted a gossip. 



There was no difficulty in finding a bee similarly 

 disposed, for work in the hive was slack that after- 

 noon.* 



" Bother the pollen," grumbled a bee, as she was 

 passing Buz ; "how it does stick to one, to be sure ; 

 but this is the last lot I bring in this blessed day. 

 My name is ' easy ' for the rest of the afternoon." 



"And so is mine," cried Buz ; " let us go to the 

 garden, and sit in the sun." 



"All right," said the other; "just wait till I un- 

 load ; I won't be a minute." 



As soon as she returned, the two bees flew off 

 together. 



" We are not the only ones who are taking it 

 easy," observed her friend to Buz, as they settled 

 comfortably on a cucumber frame in a corner; " I 



* It is a fact that bees do not work so hard after a swarm has left ; 

 and it is sometimes necessary to send it back to the hive, in order that 

 a half-filled super may be completed. If the queen be caught and 

 removed, the swarm will return. 



