114 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



bees dutifully lend their mother a helping mandible in 

 house cleaning and in making the home attractive. 

 And they doubtless find it pleasant to linger about 

 the old homestead and make it their abiding-place until 

 they feel capable of setting up establishments of their 

 own. This is certainly true of the fall brood. These 

 children of the autumn, when the days become cool, 

 crawl into the clean nest, head downward, one after an- 

 other, and tuck themselves in as cosy as cosy can be, 

 and just go to sleep and stay asleep until the bright 

 May sunshine calls to them through the open door and 

 tells them to wake up and go to work. I have often 

 wondered if this long winter's sleep were not brightened 

 by dreams of sunlight and flowers. How do we know 

 that this is not the bee's way of spending the winter in 

 Florida ? 



Thus we have learned the main facts in the life of 

 our little Ceratina, supposing that her life has been 

 fortunate from egg to motherhood. But in our studies 

 of these hidden homes we find records of struggles and 

 tragedies and thus learn that our tiny friend has many 

 enemies always watching for an opportunity to injure 

 her and hers. Among these foes are some of her own 

 depraved and lazy relatives who certainly ought to have 

 better manners and morals. Other species of bees, and 

 some wasps, which build their nests in the hollow stalks 



