820 NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
The culprits seem to know well enough that they 
are in the wrong, and whenever a pilferer is dis¬ 
covered she slinks away meekly enough. 
“ Bumblebees seem to know that their home is 
only a transient one. They do not store up pro¬ 
visions for winter, as do the honey bees. Ten 
days’ supplies on hand in case of damp and un¬ 
favorable weather is quite sufficient to satisfy 
their ambition, and at best not more than a quar¬ 
ter of a pint of honey is ever to be found in their 
little jars. That it makes up in quality what it 
lacks in quantity every boy that ever robbed a 
colony knows. Nothing more delectable than 
bumblebee honey ever tickled any one’s palate. 
Their honey jars show how adept the little work¬ 
ers are at utilizing remnants and by-products. 
Take a look at this one. Note that it is simply 
an abandoned silken pupa case, cut down, and 
glazed with a specially prepared wax to make it 
moisture proof. 
“ When our colony gets a little stronger, they 
will work on bright moonlight nights. But bum¬ 
blebees are not like the honey bees, who never 
sleep during the working season; they take ad¬ 
vantage of dark or cold nights to recuperate 
their energies. Then they show another really 
remarkable trait: a night watch is appointed to 
stand guard over the sleeping hosts. The senti¬ 
nel does her duty most faithfully: all night long 
