6o THE BEE AS AN INSECT. [Cll. I. 



curved, and of a bluish-white colour. They are glutinous 

 on the surface when laid, which causes them to adhere 

 to the bases of the cells where the queen deposits them. 

 In three or four days the egg changes to a small white 

 worm, and in this stage is known by the names of larva 

 or grub (Plate II. Fig. 8), in which state it remains four 

 to six days more — a drone six and a half; its dimensions 

 enlarge during this period till it appears as a ring at the 

 base of the cell. While in this stage it is fed by the 

 nurse bees with a mixture of farina and honey, a trans- 

 parent white fluid in which the larva floats, and the 

 supply of which is so exactly apportioned that not a 

 drop remains on its ceasing to be required. 



The next transformation is to the nymph or pupa form. 

 The nurse bees now seal up the cells with a preparation 

 similar to wax, leaving them with coverings which, by 

 their greater convexity and darker colour, distinguish 

 them readily from honey cells. The pupa then spins 

 round itself a film or cocoon, just as a silkworm does in 

 its chrysalis state : workers and drones occupy thirty-six 

 hours with this process ; princesses, which spin only 

 half-cocoons, finish them in twenty-four. The micro- 

 scope shows that this cradle-curtain is perforated with 

 very minute holes, through which the baby bee is duly 

 supplied with air. No farther attention on the part of 

 the bees is now requisite, except a proper degree of heat, 

 which they take care to keep up — a position for the 

 breeding cells being selected in the centre of the hive, 



