REJUVENATION 63 



and the centre of the hive is soon full of young 

 grubs in all stages. 



The crocuses are alive with dark, swiftly moving 

 forms, and round about the hive bees are busy 

 coming and going. A great spring-cleaning takes 

 place. The remains of dead bees which have 

 fallen from the cluster, are dragged away far 

 enough for the decomposition of their bodies 

 to have no harmful effects on the living. Old 

 combs are cleared of rubbish such as mouldy 

 pollen, and made sweet and clean for the coming 

 of the queen. The crocuses have hardly done 

 blooming before the sallow blossoms begin to nod 

 in the March gales. These fragrant flowers are 

 a source of great attraction to insects of all kinds. 

 The very earliest bumble-bees, queens which 

 have awakened from their winter sleep and are 

 taking an airing and nourishment to strengthen 

 themselves for the hard labour of nest building, 

 boom round in a joyous ecstasy. Early moths 

 crowd to the blooms in the evening, getting, 

 many of them, hopelessly drunk on the rich 

 nectar. But none are so fond of the soft downy 

 catkins as the honey-bees. Wherever a bush is 

 to be found, thither they crowd in enormous 

 numbers, packing away huge masses of pollen on 

 their legs, lading themselves so heavily that many, 

 alas ! never reach the hive, a strong gust of wind 

 blowing them breathless to the ground, from 

 whence they never rise again. 



