150 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



cell will contain the contents of many honey-bags. When a 

 bee comes to disgorge the honey, with its fore legs it breaks 

 the thick cream that is always on the top, and the honey 

 which it yields passes under it. This cream is honey of a 

 thicker consistence than the rest, which rises to the top in 

 the cells like cream on milk : it is not level, but forms an 

 oblique surface over the honey. The cells, as you know, are 

 usually horizontal, yet the honey does not run out. The 

 cream, aided probably by the general thickness of the honey 

 and the attraction of the sides of the cell, prevents this. Bees, 

 when they bring home the honey, do not always disgorge it ; 

 they sometimes give it to such of their companions as have 

 been at work within the hive. 1 Some of the cells are filled 

 with honey for daily use, and some with what is intended for 

 a reserve, and stored up against bad weather or a bad season : 

 these are covered with a waxen lid. 2 



The pollen is employed as circumstances direct. When 

 the bee laden with it arrives at the hive, she sometimes stops 

 at the entrance, and very leisurely detaching it by piecemeal, 

 devours one or both the pellets on her legs, chewing them 

 with her jaws, and passing them then down the little orifice 

 before noticed. Sometimes she enters the hive, and walks 

 upon the combs; and, whether she walks or stands, still keeps 

 beating her wings. By the noise thus produced, which seems 

 a call to some of her fellow-citizens, three or four go to her, 

 and placing themselves around her, begin to lighten her of 

 her load, each taking and devouring a small portion of her 

 ambrosia ; this they repeat, if more do not arrive to assist 

 them, three or four times, till the whole is disposed of. 3 

 Wildman observed them on this occasion supporting themselves 

 upon their two fore feet ; and making several motions with 

 their wings and body to the right and left, which produced 

 the sound that summoned their assistants. 4 This bee-bread, 

 as I said before, is generally found in the second stomach and 

 intestines, but the honey never ; which induced Reaumur to 



1 Huber observes that the honey for store is collected by the wax-making 

 bees only {abeilles cirieres), and that the nurses {abeilles nourrices) gather no more 

 than what is wanted for themselves and companions at work in the hive, 

 (ii. 66.) 



2 Reaum. v. 448. 3 Ibid. v. 4 18. 4 Ibid. v. p. 38. 



