BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
318 
the case of the large bee, than in that of the normal 
one. The former, however, has the advantage of 
being able to decrease its return visits to the hive to 
unload, because its honey-sac is larger ; but this is 
the only gain, and it is much more than counter- 
balanced by the fact that, with normal bees, eight inde- 
pendent gatherers would be at work simultaneously for 
only the same wear and tear that would permit of the 
efforts of one if the bulk were increased as supposed. 
Selection has gone on for ages regulating the propor- 
tions of the wondrous insect between those extremes 
in which the loss by excessively frequent returns to the 
colony, and the loss through excessive bodily weight, 
balance each other, and has thus given us a bee whose 
size yields the best possible results. 
The botanical reason for desirino- no alteration 
o 
was expounded in Vol. I. Flowers and bees have 
been constantly interacting. The build of every floret 
is adapted to that of its fertiliser, and, could we 
suddenly increase the dimensions of our hive bees, we 
should throw them out of harmony with the floral 
world around them, decrease their utility, by reducing 
the number of plants they could fertilise, and diminish 
equally their value as honey-gatherers. Mechanics, 
physiology, economics, and botany alike, show any 
craving after mere size to be an ill-considered and un- 
scientific fancy, for which it would be even difficult to 
find an excuse. 
Attention has already been drawn to the fact (page 
228 et seq.) that natural selection tends to develop 
the swarming tendency, while the bee-keeper’s interest 
lies in checking this very tendency to the uttermost. 
