The Life of the Bee 
for some moments fly backwards, hovering 
eagerly about the table or window, with 
her head turned toward the room. 
She is reconnoitring, fixing in her 
memory the exact position of the treasure. 
Thereupon she will go to the hive, dis- 
gorge her plunder into one of the provi- 
sion-cells, and in three or four minutes 
return, and resume operations at the 
providential window. And thus, while 
the honey lasts, will she come and go, 
at intervals of every five minutes, till 
evening, if need be; without interruption 
or rest; pursuing her regular journeys 
from the hive to the window, from the 
window back to the hive. 
[ 46 ] 
Many of those who have written on 
bees have thought fit to adorn the truth; 
I myself have no such desire. For 
studies of this description to possess 
162 
