Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-28
The Honey Bee.

The National Intolligencer publishes the fol-
lowing synopsis of a lecture on the honey-bee,
at the Smithsonian Institution, by DR.. Morris, of
Baltimore:
DR.. Morris introduced his address by observ-
ing that it would lie as easy to write book as
an hours lecture on the lject he had selected
for the evenings discussion. Naturalists had
written volumes on it; and yet all had not been
said. The honey-bce is found in all climates
and countries of both the Old and New Worlds,
save in the most northerly, where ice and snow
prevail throughout the year. Wherever the
sun shines and flowers bloom there will the
honey bee be found in company. The first men,
ton made in history. at least indirectly, of this
interesting and everywhere popular animal is
by Moses Of the land of Canaan, it is said it
"howed with milk and honey" The bee depos-
ties its stores in hollow trees whence man and
beast, and especially the bear and the fox, rifle
the sweet contents. The cocineal and honey
bee are the only insects cultivated by civilized
society, and the latterilas been theme ofprase
as well by the ancents rs the moderns.
DR.. Morris had no intention of teaching any
thing as to the modes of rearing bees; his only
object was to give their natural history. Let
any one place him or herself near hive of bees
that is, if the person does not unfortunately
happen to be one of that class against whom
bees, for some unexplained reason, have natu-
raj antipathy-and commence systematic OBJ
servation. He will see some coming to the hive
laden with the spoils of the fields, others leav-
ing it in like manner to return. II clond
should obscure the sun, the air will swarm with
returning bees fearful of "a storm, for they do
not like to be caught out in bad weather. He
may also perceive especially if the hive be
n,ade of glass-certain bees busily taking Oft the
dead body of collaboration, or cleaning the
streets and alleys of the hive from any dirt or
npurity that may have gathered there; for
bees are no less remarkable for their cleanliness
than their industry, skfulness, and energy. On
this account it was that friend of his, teach
er near Harrisburg, was in tie habit OF making
the bee the exemplai which he directed his pu-
pills always to copy Some things in the char
acter of the bee are not so well to initiate, for
they are occasionally the victims of violent pas
sions and cruel rage, fighting to desperation.
There are three kinds of bees in every hive.
They are the queen bee, the male or drone bee,
and the workers. All are necessary to the har-
monous and successful progress of the little
community. Their houses and cells are all con-
structed upon principles high in geometrical
science, so as to ensure the greatest economy OF
space and material. On this account, as well us
better to suit the round shape OF their bodies,
the cells are hexagona As to the material of
the CELL man, with ali his sagacity, has never
been able to make it, This wax is secretion
from the body of the bee, and is not elaborated
in great abundance, so that much economy is
necessary in its use. 1t requires twenty-four
hours to prepare it. 1t is a mistake to suppose
that bees gather honey from flowers; they do
no such thing. They gather material from
which they afterwards elaborate honey.
The nest or hive of the wild or humble bee is
very rough and nartificial affair compared
with that of our friend the honey-bee. In the
construction of the ed6ces of the latter there are
two sets of workmen; the first, or wax makers
are the mere hod-carriers of the hive, and are
followed by the skiilful arttcers, who in their
turn are overlooked by single master-eye,
which surveys all operations as they proceed
Hooper, naturalist, states that he once saw
such an overseer, who had been temporarily ab-
sent, come and have portion OF the work done
in his absence pulled down and rebuilt. For
this DR.. NJ. could not vouch himself; he gave it
merely on the authority stated.
The queen bee is the sovereign of the hive
Without her inspiring presence no work goes
on: all is confusion and anarchy. Notwith
and destroys numbers of her own offspring while
vet grubs in their cocoons. This, however, is
provision of nature, and not to be set to the
prejudice of the bee. Hermurders however are
not allowed to 60 too far, for the hive in body
objects when she becomes over sanguinary, as
she sometimes does, and stirs up such an ex-
c,ement as to create the necessity for an abdl-
cation, when she makes off with a thousand or
two retainers, and as the saying is, 'swarms.
The bees have the greatest respect for their
queen, and attend her in much state. When q
stray queen from another hive comes in, they
set their own queen on her and make them tight
intending to obey the conqueror.
The queen bee will lay 100000 eggs in sea-
son, and thus it is that they are so cautious IN
not having more than one in a hive. If queen
should be lost in any way, the bees make anoth-
er by feeding one of their number with pecu
liar food, for any bee can be developed into
queen.
The lecturer further described the swarming
of bees, the form and anatomy of the tongue and
sting, and mentioned the enemies to the little
sid almost rational animal whose history he
had so ably and humoronsly detailed.