28 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



77. Wax is secreted, as occasion may require, 

 from small sacks, situated between the segments 

 of the body of the bee, on the under side ; it is 

 used for constructing the combs in which the 

 family provision of honey and the young brood 

 are deposited ; the wax of commerce is produced 

 by melting down these combs. 



78. A bee-hive contains three kinds of indi- 

 viduals, — a queen, drones, and workers ; the 

 queen is a female,- and not only the ruler, but, in 

 great part, the mother of the community ; the 

 drones are males, and the workers are abortive 

 females. 



79. The sole office of the queen appears to be 

 the laying of eggs, and this occupies her almost 

 incessantly, as a single one only is deposited in 

 each cell, thus causing her to be in continual 

 motion : she is slow and majestic in her move- 

 ments, and differs from the workers in being 

 larger, having a longer body, shorter wings, and a 

 curved sting. 



80. The queen is accompanied by a guard of 

 twelve workers, an office which is taken in turn, 

 but never intermitted : in whatever direction she 

 wishes to travel, these guards clear the way before 

 her, always with the utmost courtesy turning 

 their faces towards her, and when she rests from 

 her labours, approaching her with humility, licking 

 her face, mouth, and eyes, and fondling her with 

 their antennas. 



