AT THE CITY GATES 59 
pollen-gathering is that she deems a certain shade 
of colour makes a more becoming flying-robe, 
as that she keeps each load of pollen pure, un- 
blended, because of some imperious, economic 
need of the hive. The factor of sex, in all obser- 
vation of the ways of the honey-bee, is no more to 
be considered a negligible one than it is in the 
critical contemplation of the human species of hive. 
All this incessant coming and going of the busy 
foragers is alluring enough to the looker-on, but 
there is evidence of many other activities equally 
interesting. The work of collecting nectar and 
pollen is obviously only a part of the duties of this 
self-immolated spinster-race. Here and there in 
the seething, hurrying crowd there are bees who 
do not move with the rest, but, anchored securely 
in the full force of the living current, with heads 
lowered and turned towards the hive, are engaged’ 
in fanning their wings, and this so swiftly that 
nothing of the wing but a little grey mist can be 
seen. Looking more carefully, you will make out 
that these bees are arranged in nearly regular 
rows, one behind the other, in open order, so that 
the conflicting tides of foragers can pass uninter- 
ruptedly between. If the watcher is bold enough 
to bring his ear down to the level of the hive, he 
will make out a steady hissing noise that rings 
clear above all the din and turmoil made by the 
incessant travellers to and fro. These rows of 
fanners are seen to stretch from the hive-door 
