78 
THE BROOD. 
viscous matter covering them, for three days ; on the 
fourth, the shell, or thin enveloping membrane, 
bursts, and a small lively worm is deposited at the 
bottom. The nursing-bees instantly enter upon their 
vocation, and administer a copious supply of liquid 
food — of which farina, honey, and probably water, 
are the ingredients. As the larva increases in growth, 
the attention of the Bees in nourishing it is augmented, 
and indeed unremitting ; for at whatever time we in- 
spect a brood-comb, we shall observe hundreds of 
nurses with their bodies inserted in the cells supply- 
ing the wants of the infant progeny. Although in 
the vermicular state, and consequently without feet, 
the larvae are capable of moving in a spiral direction. 
During the first three days, their motion is so slow as 
to be scarcely perceptible, but it afterwards becomes 
more evident, and they have been observed to per- 
form two complete revolutions in less than two hours. 
The slightest movement of the nurse-bees approach- 
ing to minister to their wants, is sufficient to attract 
them to their food, which they devour most vora- 
ciously, and it is unsparingly lavished upon them. 
At first the liquor is nearly insipid, but acquires gra- 
dually a perceptible flavour of honey, and becomes 
more and more saccharine and transparent in pro- 
portion os the larva advances in growth. “ It is in- 
describable,” says Feburier, “ the care which the 
workers lavish on these little nurslings, towards whom 
they seem to cherish the tenderest attachment. A 
comb filled with brood, and placed in an empty' hive, 
never fails to retain them there, to the utter disregard 
