1.14 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



ing means to ends. It is observed, also, that they are archi. 

 tects of no mean order, constructing communal homes per- 

 fectly adapted to the needs of the individual, and serving 

 in the highest degree the wants of the whole. In con- 

 structing hexagonal cells, they choose the only form that 

 would economically fill the entire space, leaving no waste 

 room, and in this they show that they possess geometric 

 art, though they may not be acquainted with geometric 

 science. 



2. A little closer observation reveals other facts of great 

 interest. A single queen is found in each community, 

 who is at once the mother and the ruler of the society, 

 and. to her loyal homage is paid by all the members. The 

 society itself is divided into drones and workers, the for- 

 mer males and few in number, and the latter neuters, con- 

 stituting the mass of the community. It is seen, also, that 

 the cells are used for different purposes, and for each use 

 they are of somewhat different structure. The mass of the 

 cells are for the purpose of storing honey, and this forms 

 the honey-comb which is brought to the table. In other 

 cells the eggs are deposited and the young bees kept while 

 in their pupa state. These cells are of three kinds, as 

 adapted, respectively, to the queen, the workers, and the 

 drones, the royal cell being several times larger than the 

 others. In other cells is stored the food known as bee- 

 bread, upon which the larva is fed, the royal jelly, fed to 

 prospective queens exclusively, being kept by itself. 



3. The workers gather honey principally from flowers, 

 storing it in the honey-cells for food during the winter ; 

 and at a certain time before the honey season ends they ex- 

 pel the drones from the hive, and leave them to perish for 

 want of food. The phenomenon of swarming is also well 

 known. At a period, usually in early summer, the whole 

 hive seems to be in a state of commotion, and great num- 

 bers of bees collect in masses upon the outside of their hive. 



