6 THE PJIACTICAL IIKE liUlDE. 



perfection," by which the bees have taught a lesson to the 

 highest human intelligence, and have applied the shape and 

 form which give the greatest capacity and strength with least 

 expenditure of material, time, and labour. (68). 



11. Sanitation in the Hive — Other bees fulfil a lowlier task 

 and undertake the cleansing of the hive. The winter's dead 

 thev carry out for burial. The brood which, immature and 

 chilled and lifeless, occupy cells that missed the cluster's 

 nursing warmth, are seized and dragged away to safer 

 sepulture lest they infect the living, and render unavailing 

 the anxious labours of the colony. The floor board, littered 

 with particles of broken comb, and pollen pellets, and dust 

 from two hundred thousand tiny, restless feet that come and 

 go unceasingly, is swept and cleaned. For, nothing that can 

 be moved or torn asunder, and that is not sweet and pure like 

 bees themselves and like the largess of the open flowers, may 

 linger long among those cheerful toilers who, if cleanliness 

 be next to godliness, are, of all the insect class, nearest heaven. 



12. Guarding the Portal Others still, placed about the 



portal, keep guard upon the treasury. Their watchful office 

 is to see that all who seek an entrance have lawful business 

 there. These are the sleepless sentinels, well armed, who 

 pounce at once upon stranger bees and drive them off ; 

 or with their poison-stings make execution upon such as, 

 intent on robbery, are bold enough to risk a conflict. (309). 



13. Approach of Summer And the patient, earnest queen — 



a slave to duty and willing minister of all, encouraged by the 

 steady flow of honey, puts forth her best endeavours. Comb 

 after comb is filled from top to base with honey sealed, and 

 hatching brood, and larvae pearly white, and eggs like bits 

 of silken thread upon the bases of the cells. Beneath the 

 porch two ceaseless streams of merry bees pass and return. 

 For currant, thorn, and sycamore have hurried into bloom, 

 and summer, with its happy song and gladsome days, is near 

 at hand. 



" Fresh flow'rs shall fringe the wild brink of the streara. 

 And with the songs of joyance and of hop© 

 The hedgerows shall ring loud." 



