AFFECTION OF INSECTS FOR THEIR YOUNG. 377 



the wants of the larvae, that when they have attained 

 their full growth and are ready to become nymphs, not 

 an atom is left unconsumed. At this period, intuitively 

 known to their assiduous foster-parents, they terminate 

 their cares by sealing up each cell with a lid of wax, 

 convex in those containing the larvae of drones, and nearly 

 flat in those containing the larvae of workers, beneath 

 which the inclosed tenants spin in security their cocoon. 

 — In all these labours neither the queen nor the drones 

 take the slightest share. They fall exclusively upon the 

 workers, who, constantly called upon to tend fresh broods, 

 as those brought to maturity are disposed of, devote 

 nearly the whole of their existence to these maternal of- 

 fices. 



Humble-bees a , which in respect of their general policy 

 must, when compared with bees and wasps, be regarded 

 as rude and untutored villagers, exhibitnevertheless marks 

 of affection to their young quite as strong as their more 

 polished neighbours. The females, like those of wasps, 

 take a considerable share in then education. When one 

 of them has with great labour constructed a commodious 

 waxen cell, she next furnishes it with a store of pollen 

 moistened with honey ; and then having deposited six or 

 seven eggs, carefully closes the orifice and minutest in- 

 terstices with wax. But this is not the whole of her task. 

 By a strange instinct, which, however, may be necessary 

 to keep the population within due bounds, the workers, 



a Dr. Johnson was ignorant of the etymology of this word. It is 

 clearly derived from the German Hummel or Hummel Biene, a name 

 probably given it from its sound. Our English name would be more 

 significant were it altered to Hummhi"-bce or Boo»iing-bee. 



