154 The Honey-Makers 



chance the supply falls short, when, if the feeding bee is 

 teased too long she loses her temper, or is it a sense of 

 humor that causes her suddenly to close her jaws upon 

 the importunate and sensitive tongue of her sister? 



Whatever the cause that prompts the action there is no 

 doubt of the effect. The bitten bee winces and jumps 

 back, doubtless feeling inexpressible things, and begs no 

 more for honey. 



Bees are quick to fly to the rescue and avenge the 

 wrong of a sister bee when she is being hurt and cries for 

 help. Every bee-keeper knows how much more likely he 

 is to get stung if he inadvertently crushes any of the bees 

 during his manipulations. 



Although the worker bees are undeveloped females and 

 as a rule are unable to produce eggs, yet if a hive loses 

 its queen and is unable to replace her a very curious thing 

 happens. 



Some of the better developed of the worlcer bees acquire 

 power to lay eggs ! 



The origin of these " fertile workers " as they are called 

 is uncertain. They may exist when there is a queen and 

 then be destroyed by the bees, or the longing for young — 

 for combs filled with eggs and young bees — their particu- 

 lar care and the hope of their race — may affect the phys- 

 ical life of the bee so that it is possible for it to perform 

 maternal functions. 



As it is impossible for a worker bee to mate because of 

 her imperfect structure, all of her eggs are unfertilized and 

 of course hatch into drones. 



The fertile workers are therefore a greater misfortune 

 even than the loss of the queen since the swarm of drones 

 that comes forth hastens the destruction of the colony by 

 quickly consuming the stores. 



The old method of obtaining the honey was to smoke 



