THE HONEY-BEE, 27 
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. 
Fig. 5.—DRoNE 
CONSTRUCTION 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. 
GATHERING AND STORING POLLEN. 
The pollen of flowers comprises the chief food of the 
young bees. When collecting it, the bees alight upon the 
* The idea is prevalent, that when becs are taken toa 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, abun. 
dantly prove. 
