142 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 



storage-chamber of a hive be opened during the 

 busy part of the day, hardly any old bees will be 

 seen among the crowd, which is industriously 

 filling the cells with the new-gathered sweets. 



It is not until the beginning of the second week 

 of their life that the young bees make their first 

 essay in the open air, and then it is only for a few 

 minutes during the hottest part of the day. This 

 sudden midday uproar is a familiar experience to 

 the bee-keeper during the late spring and summer ; 

 and although the drones at first contribute largely 

 to the chorus, they soon fly away, while the singing 

 cloud of bees which remains enveloping every hive 

 at this time, is entirely composed of the young 

 house-bees taking their daily brief allowance of 

 exercise and air. 



It is found that the glands necessary for the pro- 

 duction of the brood-food, as also the wax-genera- 

 ting organs, are largely developed in bees only a 

 few weeks old, while, after their first month of life 

 is over, these organs are greatly reduced. The 

 bee generally begins outdoor work as a forager 

 soon after she has reached the age of fourteen 

 days. It is, however, probably a week or two 

 longer before she attempts the more serious busi- 

 ness of nectar-gathering. Nearly all the pollen- 

 bearers are bees in their first young strength and 

 vigour, and therefore peculiarly adapted to the 

 carrying of heavy burdens. But as soon as the 

 worker-bee has settled down to the great para- 



