154 The Bee People. 



Those hatched later in the season live 

 through the winter, and are all ready to 

 begin work as soon as the flowers come in 

 the spring. 



Bees spend the winter clustered together 

 in the hive, and are then so inactive that 

 they seem to be scarcely alive. 



When bees go out from the hive for the 

 first time to gather nectar, they are very 

 smooth and fme-looking. 



But they, too, grow old. Their pretty 

 velvety down wears off, and their wings 

 become broken and ragged. I do not think 

 they turn gray or get wrinkles in their 

 faces, but they certainly do get to wear 

 very shabby-looking wings. 



A Veteran. 



