ITALIAN QUEEN BEE 37, 



any highly bred young lady could possibly 

 be. 



Now then, it did not remain so tranquil 

 very long. We must be rightly named 

 "busy bees," for with us there is perpetu- 

 ally something doing that is worth while, 

 either outside or inside the hive, or both. 

 That is, of course, excepting when we take 

 our rest and sleep in winter, as other people 

 take theirs, tho' perhaps not at the same 

 time or in the same way. So, in a little 

 while I could discern much walking about, 

 which grew more distinct until, tho' I knew 

 that swarm must have been a large one, 

 I felt certain that there was a good rem- 

 nant of individuals to perpetuate the inter- 

 ests of my colony. As already suggested, 

 I ascertained that a few thousands had, as 

 adult workers, been absent in the fields, 

 gathering nectar from clover blossoms. 

 These were now returning home heavily 

 laden, and all work went on as before ex- 

 cept that, for the time being, there were not 

 as many harvesters. Quite often I heard 



