go THE HISTORY’ OF BEES. 
worm is encompafled, it is certain that the Bees after- 
waids carry honey for it’s nourifhment, and bring them 
a greater quantity of food, in proportion to their growth, 
till the eighth day; after which they take no further care 
of thefe young ones, but ftop up all the cells. That the 
faid nutritive matter is gradually increafed, as the worms 
gtow, I entirely agree with him ; but that the Bees, car- 
ry them honey for their nourifhment there, I abfolutely 
deny; they tafe no honey more or lefs, till they come 
out of thec Ils, and commence perfect fying infe&s, 
are able to feed themfelves, and are no longer fed by 
their tender nurfes, as the birds ufually feed their young, 
tho’ fome writers have faid as much, and mifled their 
readeis.* 
No fooner have they forced a paflage thro’ the prifon 
doors, (of which I have been very oft a delightful fpec- 
tator) but I have feen them fearching after honey in the 
neighbouring cells; which henceforward is their only 
food. ae 
After the little worm, continuing fo long in it’s firft 
form, is grown to fuch a fubftance, that it can continue 
no longer in that pofture, ereGting it’s head, it direéts 
itielf towards the mouth of the cell. 
When it is arrived at a certain bignefs or ftature (a 
fufficient quantity of fuitable food, to bring the embryo 
to perfection being put into the cell) the Bees clofely 
feal it up, taking no further care about their young: ha- 
ving faithfully fo far difcharged their office, they have 
nothing more to do, but by a natural heat to cherifh'the 
brood, and haften the birth. And 
® Purchas’s Theatrep. 55. Warder, p. 26, 
*» 
