The Life of the Bee 
sphere that the walls of the comb di- 
vide; it rises imperceptibly and falls, 
it advances or retires, in proportion as 
the cells grow empty to which it clings. 
For, contrary to what is generally believed, 
the winter life of the bee is not arrested, 
although it be slackened. By the con- 
certed beating of their wings — little 
sisters that have survived the flames of 
the sun—which go quickly or slowly 
in accordance as the temperature without 
may vary, they maintain in their sphere 
an unvarying warmth, equal to that of 
a day in spring. This secret spring 
comes from the beautiful honey, itself but 
a ray of heat transformed, that returns 
now to its first condition. It circulates 
in the hive like generous blood. The 
bees at the full cells present it to their 
neighbours, who pass it on in their turn. 
Thus it goes from hand to hand and from 
mouth to mouth, till it attain the extrem- 
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