NATURAL HISTORY OF THE IIONKY-BEE. 
59 
seven months; but their age depends very much upon 
their greater or less exposure to injurious influences, and 
severe labors. Those reared in the Spring and early part 
of Summer, upon whom the heaviest labors of the hive 
devolve, appear to live not more than two or three 
months* ; while those bred at the close of Summer, and 
early in Autumn, being able to spend a large part of 
their time in repose, attain a much greater age. It is very 
evident that “ the bee ” (to use the words of a quaint old 
writer), “ is a Summer bird and that, with the excep- 
tion of the queen, none live to be a year old. 
Notched and ragged wings, instead of gray hairs and 
wrinkled faces, are the signs of old age in the bee, and 
indicate that its season of toil will soon be over. They 
appear to die rather suddenly ; and often spend their last 
days, and sometimes even their last hours, in useful labors. 
Place yourself before a hive, and see the indefatigable 
energy of these industrious veterans, toiling along with 
their heavy burdens, side by side with their more youth- 
ful compeers, and then judge if, while qualified for useful 
labor, you ought ever to surrender yourself to slothful 
indulgence. Let the cheerful hum of their busy old age 
inspire you with better resolutions, and teach you how 
much nobler it is to die with harness on, in the active 
discharge of the duties of life. 
The age which individual members of the community 
may attain, must not be confounded with that of the col- 
ony. Bees have been known to occupy the same domicile 
for a great number of years. I have seen flourishing colo- 
nies more than twenty years old; the Abbe Della llocca 
speaks of some over forty years old ; and Stoche says, that 
he saw a colony, which he was assured had swarmed annually 
• If an Italian queen lie given, in tlie working season, to a swarm of common 
bees, in about three months only a fow of the latter will bo found in the colony. 
