The Life of the Bee 
hang from the crook of a branch; and the 
comb will be lengthened, the queen lay 
her eggs, provisions be stored, with no 
shelter other than that which the work- 
ers’ own bodies provide. Our Northern 
bees have at times been known to revert 
to this instinct, under the deceptive influ- 
ence of a too gentle sky:; and swarms have 
been found living in the heart of a bush. 
But even in the Indies, the result of 
this habit, which would seem innate, is 
by no means favourable. So considerable 
a number of the workers are compelled to 
remain on one spot, occupied solely with 
the maintenance of the heat required by 
those who are moulding the wax and rear- 
ing the brood, that the Apis Dorsata, 
hanging thus from the branches, will con- 
struct but a single comb; whereas if she 
have the least shelter she will erect four 
or five, or more, and will proportionately 
increase the prosperity and the population 
374 
