112 ffOfV WAX IS MADE. 



material, and it is of great importance to the bees that 

 they should make as little of it as possible. 



It used to be thought that the wax-makers were a 

 special set of bees by themselves, but this is not the 

 case. All the workers, more or less, take their turn, 

 except the very young bees. 



And now of these young bees, these children of 

 the hive, I must say something that you must try and 

 remember. It is this — that these young ones do not 

 leave the hive for two or three weeks after they are 

 born, except at times for short flights to play and 

 take exercise "like children. All this time they re- 

 main at home to get strength, and (shall we say .') be 

 taught their duties. But, although they stay at home, 

 they are by no means idle. Do not think this for a 

 moment. Indeed, they have most important work to 

 do, and they do it like useful children. 



First of all, the task is given to them of looking 

 after and nursing the young grubs in the brood nest. 

 For these they prepare the food, and put it in the cells ; 

 and then when the proper time comes, seal the cells 

 over, doing everything that is necessary. These young 

 bees are often called the nurses, and very good nurses 

 they are. 



They are also in great measure, although not al- 

 ways, the comb-builders, taking the wax from the 

 wax-makers, and fashioning it into the proper shape. 

 They also do much other work, storing away into the 

 cells the honey and pollen brought in by the other bees. 



They are, indeed, very useful young bees, very 

 helpful to the mother in the care of her little ones, 

 and although not old enough to go out into the fields 



