94 BEE PASTURAGE. 



BEE BREAD SELDOM PACKED IN DRONE CELLS. 



Bee bread is generally exclusively packed in the worker 

 cells. I -.night as well remark here, that when taking combs 

 from a hive filled with honey, if such pieces were selected 

 as contained drone cells, there would be but little risk of 

 finding bee-bread ; the outside sheets, and the upper cor- 

 ners of the others are next best. The sheets of comb used 

 ]5rincipally for raising workers, and the cells adjoining 

 those used for breeding, for an inch or two in width, are 

 nearly all packed with pollen, and much of it will remain 

 when the breeding season is past. Smaller portions are 

 found in the worker cells in nearly all parts of the hive; 

 even the boxes will sometimes contain a little. 



MANNER OF DISCHARGING POLLEN". 



In a glass hive the bees may be seen depositing their 

 loads of pollen. The legs holding the pellets are thrust 

 into the cell, and a motion like rubbing them together is 

 made for half a minute, when they are withdrawn, and the 

 two little loaves of bread may be seen at the bottom. 

 This bee appears to take no farther care about them, but 

 another will soon come along, enter the cell head first, and 

 pack it close. The cell is filled about two-thirds of its 

 length in this way, and when sealed over, a little honey is 

 used to fill it out. To witness the operation of depositing 

 honey, a glass hive or box is requisite, as the edges of the 

 combs will be attached to the glass. 



DISCHARGING HONEY. 



When honey is abundant, most of these half cells next 

 the glass will contain some. The bee goes to the bottom 

 of the cell, deposits a particle of honey, and brushes it in- 

 to the corners or angles with its tongue, carefully exclud- 

 ing all the air. As it is filled, that next the sides of the 

 cells is kept in advance of the centre. This is just as a 



