MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BEES DO. 105 



But, on the other hand, the actual time occupied 

 in any journey is not long. It is only, when many 

 journeys have to be taken, that it is of much moment, 

 for the swiftness with which bees fly is very astonish- 

 ing. They very soon cover a mile of ground. We 

 see them dart from their hives, and in a moment they 

 are out of sight ; but, great as this pace is, I have no 

 doubt, when out of sight, and ' the steam is up,' they 

 go faster still. We gather some idea of this from 

 what we have seen when travelling in a fast train 

 with the carriage windows open. A wasp, or bee, 

 attracted by some sweets within, will fly in and out 

 of the windows, apparently as easily as if the train 

 were at rest. On the other hand, a partridge, fright- 

 ened by the passing train, and flying along the line, 

 will hardly keep pace with the carriage in which you 

 are seated. 



Another remarkable fact connected with the bees' 

 work is, that when in search of honey and pollen, 

 they do not go from one kind of flower to another, 

 but always keep to the same kind during any one 

 journey. Whatever the kind of flower they begin 

 with, they go on with, until ready to return home. 

 They do not, for instance, go from mignonette to 

 sweet-pea, although both may be growing in the 

 same border ; but if they begin with mignonette, 

 they go on with it, and so with the sweet-pea. 



One would have thought that they would go to 

 the flower which came most conveniently in their way, 

 without making any selection ; but such a mixture 

 would never do. So, if you examine a little pellet 

 of pollen when brought home, you may find it deep 



