142 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 
storage-chamber of a hive be opened during the 
busy part of the day, hardly any old bees will be 
seen among the crowd, which is industriously 
filling the cells with the new-gathered sweets. 
It is not until the beginning of the second week 
of their life that the young bees make their first 
essay in the open air, and then it is only for a few 
minutes during the hottest part of the day. This 
sudden midday uproar is a familiar experience to 
the bee-keeper during the late spring and summer ; 
and although the drones at first contribute largely 
to the chorus, they soon fly away, while the singing 
cloud of bees which remains enveloping every hive 
at this time, is entirely composed of the young 
house-bees taking their daily brief allowance of 
exercise and air. 
It is found that the glands necessary for the pro- 
duction of the brood-food, as also the wax-genera- 
ting organs, are largely developed in bees only a 
few weeks old, while, after their first month of life 
is over, these organs are greatly reduced. The 
bee generally begins outdoor work as a forager 
soon after she has reached the age of fourteen 
days. It is, however, probably a week or two 
longer before she attempts the more serious busi- | 
ness of nectar-gathering. Nearly all the pollen- 
bearers are bees in their first young strength and 
vigour, and therefore peculiarly adapted to the 
carrying of heavy burdens. But as soon as the 
worker-bee has settled down to the great para- 
