tiOME OF THE HONEY BEE. 45 



a little bit of comb is made exactly to fit it, and very 

 often in the most curious and ingenious way possible. 



There is no waste of room or material, or care- 

 lessness as to little things. If we could hear them 

 talk wc should never hear them saying, ' Oh ! never 

 mind that little bit of wax, or that little corner of the 

 hive. It will not much matter if we do waste it. It 

 won't make much difference. It's only a trifle.' 

 And if they meet with difficulties, and get into awk- 

 ward places, as they often do in badly made hives, or 

 in trees or buildings, they will always, in a most 

 wonderful way, make the best of the situation, and 

 adapt themselves to circumstances. We cannot do 

 better, I think, than try and follow their example. 



Another thing that will certainly strike us will be 

 the tidiness of everything, — the whole house kept in 

 good order. We shall see an excellent example of the 

 old saying, 'A place for everything, and everything in 

 its place.' We shall not find dirt, dust, and refuse 

 left about, if only the weather is such that they can 

 get rid of it. If there is a piece of dirt, or a dead bee, 

 we shall see them pulling at it with all their strength ; 

 and if it is too much for one to manage, we shall see 

 two or more joining in the work, until they get it out 

 of the hive and throw it on the ground. 



It is quite the tidy house one likes to see, — every- 

 thing clean, even if old ; everything in its place, and 

 everything well ordered, and done at the right time. 

 It is not the home one often sees, — without order or 

 arrangement, dirty and uncomfortable, and everything 

 in confusion from morning to night. 



