68 BREEDING. 



Hundreds when biting their way out. Instead of 

 care or notice, they often receive rather rough treat- 

 ment: the workers, intent on other matters, will 

 sometimes come in contact with one part way out 

 the cell, with force sufficient to almost dislocate its 

 neck ; yet they do not stop to see if any harm is done, 

 or beg pardon. The little sufferer, after this rude 

 lesson, scrambles back as soon as possible out of the 

 way; enlarges the prison door a little, and attempts 

 again, with perhaps the same success : a dozen trials 

 are often made before they succeed. When it does 

 actually leave, it seems like a stranger in a multitude, 

 with no frieiid to counsel, or mother to direct. It 

 wanders about uncared for and unheeded, and rarely 

 finds one sufficiently benevolent to bestow even the 

 necessaries of life ; but does sometimes. It is gene- 

 rally forced to learn the important lesson of looking 

 out for itself, the day it leaves the cradle. A cell 

 containing honey is sought for, where its immediate 

 wants are all supplied. 



GUESS WORK. 



The time before it is ready to leave the hive for 

 honey, I might guess would be two or three days. 

 Others have said "it would leave the day it Left the 

 cell f^ but I guess they guess at this point. They 

 tell us, too, that after the bees seal over the cells 

 containing the larvas, " they immediately commence 

 spinning their cocoons, which takes just about thirty- 

 six hours." I think it very likely; but when I 

 admit it, I cannot imagine how it was ascertained ; — 



