THE HONEY-BEE. 37 



thousands, is actually serviceable in fecundating the 

 queen. The number reared depends upon 

 the strength of the colony, and the stores. 

 on hand, or being collected. 



Whenever a scarcity of honey occurs, 



they are all destroyed. Thus their life is 



very precarious, being sometimes limited 



to a few hours, or extended to a few days, 



' weeks, or months ; but averaging much 



less than that of the workers. 



COKSTRTJCTION' OF COMB. 



When the flowers expand their delicate petals, and 

 furnish their stores of nectar and pollen, the bees need 

 no stimulus from man to induce them to secure these 

 proffered treasures. Instinct prompts them to collect 

 these stores, and make suitable provision for the rearing 

 of their young. * To this end, comb must be construct- 

 ed ; to produce the materials for this, a large amount of 

 honey is consumed, and by a wonderful process of nature, 

 a secretion of wax takes place, of which the delicate 

 combs are speedily built. (See Chap. XII). The cells 

 of which these combs are composed, are hexagonal in 

 form, and ordinarily of two sizes, adapted respectively to 

 the rearing of workers and of drones. Queen-cells are 

 exceptional in shape and size, and are constructed as 

 needed, with a view to swarming. 



GATHERIKO AND STOEING POLLEN. 



The pollen of flowers comprises the chief food of the 

 young bees. When collecting it, the bees alight upon the 



• The idea ifl prevalent, that when beoB are taken to a warm climate, where 

 they can gather honey during the whole year, they will lose this instinct to 

 accumulate stores, and only provide for their immediate wants. This is an 

 error, as the large quantities of surplus honey stored in such regions, abuD- 

 dantly prove. 



