220 THE FAIRY-LAND OF SCIENCE. 
or reading, or playing, but it is getting too hot now to 
do anything ; and so you have chosen the shadiest 
nook under the old walnut-tree, close to the flower- 
bed, on the lawn, and would almost like to go to sleep 
if it were not too early in the day. 
As you lie there thinking of nothing in particular, 
except how pleasant it is to be idle now and then, 
you notice a gentle buzzing close to you, and you see 
that on the flower-bed close by several bees are work- 
ing busily among the flowers. They do not seem to 
mind the heat, nor to wish to rest ; and they' fly so 
lightly and look so happy over their work that it does 
not tire you to look at them. 
That great humble-bee takes it leisurely enough as 
she goes lumbering along, poking- her head into the 
larkspurs, and remaining so long in each you might 
almost think she had fallen asleep. The brown hive- 
bee, on the other hand, moves busily and quickly 
among the stocks, sweet peas, and mignonette. She 
is evidently out on active duty, and means to get all 
she can from each flower, so as to carry a good load 
back to the hive. In some blossoms she does not stay 
a moment, but draws her head back directly she has 
popped it in, as if to say, " No honey there." But 
over the full blossoms she lingers a little, and then 
scrambles out again with her drop of honey, and goes 
off to seek more in the next flower. 
Let us watch her a little more closely. There are 
plenty of different plants growing in the flower-bed, 
but, curiously enough, she does not go first to one 
kind and then to another ; but keeps to one, perhaps 
the mignonette, the whole time, till she flies away. 
