THE HUMBLE BEE. 
93 
On the top of the combs will be noticed a few 
large cells made of wax, nearly round, or globular 
in shape. These are constructed by the females, 
and contain the eggs, larva?, and a supply of 
food. Pollen and honey compose the food of the 
workers, and pure honey that of the males and 
females. In addition to the supply for the young, 
they lay up a little store of honey for rainy days. 
They do not, however, lay by as large an amount 
as the hive bee, because, as most of them die in the 
autumn, it is not needed. 
What a delicate arrangement of the instinct is 
here seen. The hive bee seems to know that it 
must prepare tor coming wants, and acting with 
a considerate forethought, “ lays by her store in 
summer ; ” the humble bee seems equally well to 
know that she has but a few weeks to live, and 
therefore makes no provision for the future. 
The little quantities that the humble bee stores 
away are put up in round, open-mouthed vessels, 
made by cutting off the ends of the empty cocoons 
and strengthening them by an outside rim or 
band, and an inside coating of wax. Sometimes, 
however, when wax is abundant, they construct 
