VII. 



HER WINGS. 



POLLENLESS and honeyless Miss Apis 

 leaves home. She returns with her sac 

 full of honey and her baskets full of pollen. 



That is, if she is fortunate she returns, for 

 I regret to say that certain birds, who ought 

 to be ashamed of themselves, being fond of 

 honey, take it, bee and all. 



They do not stop her and say, "Your 

 honey or your life 1 " but swallow her whole 

 and talk about it afterwards; that is, if they 

 talk about it at all. 



Down their throat she goes, honey-sac 

 and long brown tongue, twelve thousand 

 six hundred and three eyes and curious legs, 

 all at once. Not so much as an eye escapes, 

 so far as I have ever heard. 



6i 



