THE HONEY-BEE. 
131 
stance abroad. On tbe third day of their confinement, 
a loud noise was heard in the interior of the hive, and 
on examining it, all was found in confusion — the 
brood was abandoned — the bees ran in disorder over 
the combs — thousands rushed towards the entrance, 
and gnawed at its grating. The same symptoms of 
disorder showed themselves on the two following 
days, at which time the bees were allowed to escape, 
and the combs examined. The cells were found all 
vacant, and the brood had died, doubtless of hunger. 
Was the want of farina the cause of this cata- 
strophe? To decide the point, Huber supplied the 
same hive with fresh brood and abundance of farina, 
and confined them as before. Next day, they were 
observed busily employed in consolidating the brood 
combs that had been given them ; and having dis- 
covered the farina, they were seen crowding to the 
cells containing it, extracting a supply, hurriedly 
mounting the combs, stopping at the cells containing 
brood, inserting their heads, and remaining in that 
position a considerable time. On the following day 
lie inspected the combs, and found that all the larvae 
had jelly, as in ordinary circumstances ; that they 
had grown in size, and that some had been closed up 
to undergo their transformation into nymphs. Thus 
it is placed beyond all doubt that the young bees are 
nourished chiefly by that fine powdery substance which 
is found in the anthers of flowers, and is indispensable 
to their fecundity. Nature, ever wise and provident 
has so disposed matters, that the insects which sub- 
sist on farina should he able to avail themselves of it 
