Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 
16b 
Of She Seasons, when the different Operations of Bees take 
place. 
I have already observed, that the new colony immediately 
sets about the increase of their numbers, and every thing re- 
lating to it. They had their apartments to build, both for the 
purpose of breeding, and as a storehouse for provisions for the 
winter. When the season for laying eggs is over, then is the 
season for collecting honey ; therefore, when the last chrysa- 
lis for the season comes forth, its cell is immediately filled with 
honey, and as soon as a cell is full, it is covered over with pure 
wax, and is to be considered as store for the winter. This cover- 
ing answers two very essential purposes : one is to keep it from 
spilling, or daubing the bees : the other to prevent its evapo- 
ration, by which means it is kept fluid in such a warmth. 
They are also employed in laying up a store of bee-bread for 
the young maggots in the spring, for they begin to bring forth 
much earlier than probably any other insect, because they 
retain a summer heat, and store up food for the young. 
In the month of August we may suppose the queen, or, 
queens, are impregnated by the males ; and as the males do 
not provide for themselves, they become burdensome to the 
workers, and are therefore teased to death much sooner than 
they otherwise would die ; and when the bees set about this 
business, of providing their winter store, every operation is 
over, except the collecting of honey and bee-bread. At this 
time it would seem as if the males were conscious of their 
danger, for they do not rest on the mouth of the hive in either 
