bee-keeper's manual. 81 



pollen and propolis gatherers, etc. 



There is also another division of labor in gathering ; 

 for a certain number of bees gather pollen, or farinaJ, 

 which is the same thing, for the food of the larvae ; 

 vfhile others gather honey to store in the cells, and to be 

 used in the fabrication of combs ; and, if need be, 

 others gather propolis, the wax that is used in stopping 

 up crevices and holes in the hive. 



BEES GATHER FROM ONE KIND OF FLOWER ONLY 

 DURING THE SAME EXCURSION. 



Again, a division of labor takes place in gathering 

 honey from different kinds of flowers. A bee that com- 

 mences on the blossoms of the cherry-tree, never leaves 

 that kind of tree for any other, or for any flower, but 

 continues gathering the same kind of honey. So it is 

 with the bee that commences her labors on the apple or 

 pear-tree, &c. In the fields, also, the same flowers are 

 adhered to ; and the bee that gathers from the white 

 clover, does not alight on any other flower during that 

 particular excursion ! I have witnessed this singular 

 fact, when bees gathering from difierent flowers came 

 under immediate observation, and almost in contact with 

 each other ; yet there was no promiscuous gathering by 

 them. 



SENTINELS. 



The duty of guarding the hive against the intrusion of 

 enemies, is another feature in the division of labor. 



