INSECTS. 
227 
very important articles, honey and wax, A hive of 
Bees is a perfect monarchy, containing a queen, the 
drones, and the working Bees. 
20. How necessary the queen is to the govern- 
ment of the hive, appears from the fact, that, when 
she is killed, the Bees are thrown into confusion, and 
will undertake no labour. 
21. The queen and working Bees, only, have 
stings ; and this provision of a sting is perhaps as 
curious a circumstance as any attending the Bee. 
The apparatus itself is of a very singular construc- 
tion, fitted for inflicting a wound, and at the same 
time conveying a poison into it. 
22. These industrious little animals build their 
cells of wax, each cell having six sides, and being 
sufficiently large to admit a pea. They are very 
careful in cleaning and polishing the sides of the 
cells. They then fly abroad, and, from the opening 
flowers, fill their stomachs with a few drops of honey, 
which they deposit in their cells. 
23. When the Bees begin to work in their hives, 
they divide themselves into four companies ; one of 
which roves in the fields in search of materials ; 
another employs itself in laying out the bottom and 
partitions of the cells. 
24. A third is employed in making the inside 
smooth from the corners and angles ; and the fourth 
company brings food for the rest, or relieves those 
who return with their respective burdens. 
What important articles do Bees manufacture ? How does a 
hive resemble a monarchy ? How are the cells constructed? How 
are the working bees divided ? 
