THE HTJMBLE BEK. 137 



he found one hundred and seven males, fifty-six females, and 

 one hundred and eighty workers, making a total of three 

 hundred and forty-three inhabitants. Compared with the 

 numbers that inhabit the hive, this may seem to be but a small 

 amount ; but when the reader takes into consideration the fact 

 that the insects are very much larger than the hive bee, and 

 that the cells in which they are hatched and nurtured are not 

 only of corresponding size but are also set very irregularly, so 

 as to occupy a large amount of space, he will see that the cells 

 which produced nearly three hundred and fifty humble bees 

 must have formed very large groups, and that the cavity which 

 contained them must have been exceedingly large in proportion to 

 the size of the excavators. 



As far as my own experience goes, there is little danger in 

 unearthing and exploring the nest of the Humble Bee. Opinions 

 differ greatly on this point, some practical observers saying that 

 the bees are dangerous when irritated, and that they execute 

 instant vengeance on the disturbers of the home ; while others 

 report that the insects do not attack at all ; and others, again, 

 say that they attack, but that their stings cause so little 

 pain as to excite no fear. I have opened many a nest of the 

 Humble Bee, and never been stung by the inhabitants, though 

 the bare hand might easily have suffered, as it was thrust into 

 the chamber wherein the cells reposed. 



The honey of the Humble Bee is peculiarly sweet and fragrant, 

 but not suitable for general consumption, as many persons, 

 myself among the number, are always attacked with severe 

 lieadache after eating the contents even of a single cell. The 

 colour of all Humble Bees is most variable, especially in the 

 male sex — so variable, indeed, that Mr. Kirby, in his monograph 

 of the British bees, has divided one insect into seven distinct 

 species. As if to add to the difficulty of identifying the different 

 varieties, bees of more than one species wiU sometimes be found 

 in one nest. 



The colours, however, of the present species are generally as 

 follows : — The female is nearly an inch in length, and the general 

 colour is black. The collar is orange-yellow; a band of the 

 same hue is drawn near the second segment of the abdomen ; 

 the hinder edge of the fourth segment and the whole of the fifth 

 segment are pale yellow, and the tip of the abdomen is naked. 



