The Life of the Bee 
are obliged to sweep as they hasten behind 
them. 
The cleaning over, the bees of the pro- 
fane group that form no part of the cone 
suspended in a sort of ecstasy, set to work 
minutely to survey the lower circumference 
of the common dwelling. Every crevice 
is passed in review, and filled, covered 
over with propolis; and the varnishing of 
the walls is begun, from top to bottom. 
Guards are appointed to take their stand 
at the gate; and very soon a certain 
number of workers will go to the fields 
and return with their burden of pollen. 
[41 ] 
Before raising the folds of the mysteri- 
ous curtain beneath whose shelter are laid 
the veritable foundations of the home, let 
us endeavour to form some conception of 
the sureness of vision, the accurate cal- 
culation and industry our little people 
136 
