THE COMMON OR WORKING BEES. 15 
hatched, when a small worm is presented, remaining 
in the larva or grub state four to six days more, 
during which period it is assiduously fed by the nurse- 
bees. The larve then assume the nymph or pupa 
form, and spin themselves a film or cocoon, the nurses 
immediately after sealing them up with a substance 
which Huber* calls wax. It is, however, a mixture of 
wax and pollen, being thicker, more highly coloured, 
more porous, and less tenacious, probably to afford 
air, and facilitate the escape of the imprisoned tenant. 
This takes place about the twentieth day after the 
laying of the egg, unless the process has been some- 
what retarded by cold weather. The attentive observer 
may at this time, in a suitable hive, witness the 
struggles and scrambling into the world, generally by 
its own exertions, of the now perfect imago, the little 
grey new-born shaking, brushing, and smoothing it- 
self, preparatory to entering upon the duties of life.+ 
The observations of recent years have added greatly 
to our knowledge respecting the arrangement of these 
multifarious duties. It was one of the few errors put 
forth by Huber that there exist two separate classes 
of worker bees—the indoor and the outdoor. This 
* See “Observations on the Natural History of Bees,” by Francis 
Huber: English edition, London, 1841. An invaluable work to the 
scientific apiculturist. 
t+ As soon as the young bee comes forth, the others partially clear 
the cell, and it again receives an eg ; this being often repeated four or 
five times in the season. Afterwards the cells become the receptacles 
for honey or farina ; but they are found in time to become contracted 
or thickened by this rapid succession of tenants, and the consequent 
deposits of exuvize, excrement, dc. It has been asserted by Huber 
and other naturalists, that young bees, bred in old contracted cells, are 
proportionately smaller in size. Such combs should be removed from 
the hive. Brood-cells are at once distinguishable from those 
containing honey by the dark colour and convexity of the former. 
