COLLECTION OF FARINA. 23 



elaborated. Each insect has four wings, two larger and two 

 smaller, the latter being nearest to the head. It has six feet, 

 on the two hinder of which are two triangular cavities, in 

 which the bee by degrees collects the minute particles of the 

 farina from the flowers. According to Huber, the bee in 

 search of the farina, rolls itself in the cavity of the flowers, 

 and having secured the treasure, hastens to the hive, and on 

 reaching it, enters one of the cells head foremost, takes the 

 pellets from the cavities of the hinder legs, and which being 

 moistened and mixed with a small portion of honey are kneaded 

 into a substance, called bee bread, a proper supply of which 

 is necessary to the strength and health of the bees during 

 the winter, and without which, they would become consumptive 

 and die. 



These statements of Huber are wholly without founda- 

 tion*. The bee does not roll itself in the cavity of the flower ; 

 it collects the farina with its forceps or pincers, and having 

 collected a certain quantity, it takes to its wings, hovering 

 over the flower, during which time, by means of the fore and 

 middle legs, it conveys the farina to the cavities of the hinder 

 legs, and then lights upon the flower again to obtain a fresh 

 supply. 



The bee in unloading itself does not enter the cell head 

 foremost, but directly the reverse. It places its hinder feet 

 in the cell, and with the other feet detaches the pellets from 

 the cavities, and then with its hinder legs kneads the pollen 

 at the bottom of the cell. 



The pellets of farina are never moistened nor mixed with 

 any portion of honey whatever. It is deposited in its crude 



* It is really deplorable to observe the manner in -which these fictions of 

 Huber are introduced into almost all our Encyclopedias, and elementary 

 works on Natural History. Thus, for instance, in Chambers' Edinburgh 

 Journal, we find a Mr. and Mrs. Elwood instructing their children in the 

 Natural History of the Bee, the whole of which instruction, based on the 

 supposed discoveries of Huber, is surcharged with error, and the sole ten- 

 dency of which is to lead the infant mind astray. 



