The Life of the Bee 



ing pollen for the whole of one day, will 

 bring no pollen back on the morrow, 

 but will concern themselves exclusively 

 with the search for nectar, and vice- 

 versa. 



[48] 



And further, we might mention what 

 M. Georges de Layens, the celebrated 

 French apiarist, terms the " Distribution 

 of Bees over MelUferous Plants." Day 

 after day, at the first hour of sunrise, the 

 explorers of the dawn return, and the hive 

 awakes to receive the good news of the 

 earth. " The lime trees are blossoming 

 to-day on the banks of the canal." " The 

 grass by the roadside is gay with white 

 clover." " The sage and the lotus are 

 about to open." "The mignonette, the 

 lilies are overflowing with pollen." Where- 

 upon the bees must organise quickly, and 

 arrange to divide the work. Five thou- 

 173 



