The Dickinson press., 1889-04-20
which is worth thousands of dollars annually

which is worth thousands of dollars annually
to tho farmer and to commerce. his habit of
poking his head into flowers and covering it
with pollen, which he brushes off in other
flowers, renders him n bcncfactor to nature
i'll fcrtilizing flowers. Before tho advent of
tho bee in Australia it was impossible to get
any seeds of red clover there. OF course, his
process of making honey might not suit tho
most fastidious taste, for honey is partially
digcstcd cane sugar, made so by tho aid of
tSs saliva. but as tho bcc is perfectly clean
littlc animal that rcvcls in nectar all day
long, these little irregularities must be over
looked. Besides, ho uses n different mouth
for tho honey.
Tho beo is n good flyer, but rs his wings arc
smaller in proportion to his body than aro
those of the caglo to tho king of birds, ho
has to flap them moro frequently, so he flaps
away at the ratio of 446 flaps to tho minute
He has no lungs, but n system of tiny mir
tubes extend through all parts of the body,
and these hc packs with air when he wants
to fly. Neither has he heart, but dorsal
vessel that pumps tho blood to the head.
Tho head as masniticd OH the screen, is not
beautiful object, and us it is not the center of
tho nervous system ho would not miss it very
much if cut Off if it wcrc not for the eyes,
WV hi "hlSu II iuN fsOoO lellsGS ctlCu " SeS tto
honey flowers afar off, and two others to
assist i'll doing tho microscopal work in the
hive.
Tho entrances to the hive are very care
fully guarded by sentincls, and every bee OH
arriving at tho door is challenged by them
with their antcnnn. If ho can give tho
countersign he is admitted into tho sanctuary,
but If he cannot he is i'll danger, for bees are
very nervous insects, and draw stings OH tho
slightest provocation. Tho applicant must
bc thief, and old thieves are detected by ex-
perienccd sentinels, but tho form of challeng.
lnS must be gone through first.
The old thief bee is fat and sleek and shin
ing and very suave If caught by sentnes,
he will Mt once try to make a deal and offer
tho policemen some sugar, and while they are
eating it lie either slips in and fills up at tho
cells or lie retreats and tries another hive If
the esentinelsarcinc incorruptblc. the thief humps
himself, draws his horny shields tight around
him so that the stings of tho policemen may
not penetrate and runs. a young thief
stands up to fight and gets clubbcd Ho
learns by experience.
The queen bee has not got such very easy
time. She has plenty to cat and eats it, and
flies very little; but as shc has to lay all the
eggs of the colony, and often lays moro than
her weight of eggs in ono day, the bees be-
grudge her nothing, but let her have her own
way everywhere.
The drone is the dude and walking delegate
of the hive. He is not very numerous, how
ever. He is fat and spends his time eating
honey, flirting with tho girls and the queen,
then takes quiet nap i'll the sun. When his
charms no longer please he is driven out, and
if lie cannot get berth in another hive he
starves. Tho little worker, however, accord
ing to the lecturer, does not fare much better.
She lives for about six weeks, when sEo be-
comes feeble, her wings get torn and fringcd.
and sho lies down to die in tho field, refusing
to return to the hive and become a burden
Oh the colony.--New York Times