92 BEE PASTUEAGE. 



pierce the surface, and extract the juices essential to its 

 formation, thereby preventing a vigorous growth and full 

 development. This idea is too apt to he associated with 

 the bee when it visits the flower, as if it were armed with 

 a spear, to pierce bark or stem, and rob it of its nourish- 

 ment. An examination of the structure of the bee will 

 show us that this cannot be the case. Its slender, brush- 

 like tongne, folded closely under its neck, and seldom seen 

 except when in use, is not fitted to pierce the most delicate 

 substance ; all that it can be used for is to sweep or lick 

 up the nectar as it exudes from the flower ; this is secreted 

 for no other purpose, it would seem, than to attract the bee. 

 The most delicate petal receives no injury while the bee is 

 using the instrument nature has provided for obtaining 

 the sweets. During one excursion the bee seldom visits 

 more than a single species of flower ; were it otherwise, 

 and all kinds were visited promiscuously, the fertilizing of 

 one species with the pollen from another, would be quite 

 likely to produce same hybrids among plants. Writers, 

 when noticing this peculiarity of instinct, cannot be con- 

 tent, but must add other marvels. They follow this trait 

 still farther, and make the bee store every kind by itself in 

 the hive. 



TWO KINDS OF POLLEST STOKED IN ONE CELL. 



With regard to honey it is not easy to ascertain ; but 

 pollen is of difierent colors, generally yellow, but some- 

 times pale-green, and reddish or dark-brown. I think a 

 little patient inspection will satisfy any one that two 

 kinds are sometimes packed in one cell. I will admit that 

 two colors are seldom found thus, but it is sometimes the 

 case. I have found it thus, and proved this assertion 

 worthless. 



