Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-04
TIE ll1rlE BUSY BEE.


Wsy AkOuf HiA-
John Aspln wall, Of Barrytown, y. T., dc
Hversd a lecture at the Cooper Institute On
the little busy bee, its anatomy and pnysa-
oloxy, and Illustrated his remarks by stere-
opticou views, blowing the insect and IL
workings In all their detaii&
whils In It's physical make up the bee Is u
many respects the opposite Of man 10 bis tab
its and tricks, be very much resembles the
lord Of creation, and were bsss 70 be trans
formed into men some would undoubtedly go
into the police force or In the bard Of alder
men. while there would be not few sticnessors
10 Jake Sharp and to the inexperienced young
touyhs who get elubbed by the police and are
then sen. up TO the penIsentiary for dishon-
.zty and general 'sazs' The occupations Of
walking delegate and dnds Washers are also
found in apiarian society
The little bee, that IA, the worker, Is
horny skinned child d toll He Is inca-ed in
rings and shields Of smooth horn TO shield
him against attacks Of bis own species, and
hs tolls as long as there Is light. He has not
not backbone Ike man or mule, but in
aead be has little sting that serves his IJur-
toee iust az well, and thus Manages 10 main
tain his rights Between his tongue and
,ting there Is complicated mechanism that
is Of great use 10 tbs farmer and 10 nature.
Aside from tbs honey that be dlstills- and
which "a worth Thousands of dollars annually
10 the farmer and 70 commerce, his habit Of
uokiny his head into flowers AMI covering II
with pollen, which be brushes OH In other
flowers, renders him beiiefactor 10 nature
In fertilizing flowers Before the advent Of
the bee In Australia Il was impossible % get
any seeds OF red clover there. OF course, his
process II making honey might not suit the
most fastldioHs taste, for honey Is partially
diys=,sd cane sugar, made 20 by the aid OF
tee saliga, but a. the bee Is a perfectly clean
little animal that reyels in nectar all day
long, these little irregularities must be over
boxed Besides, be nsss a different mouth
for the honey.
The bee Is a good flyer but as his wings are
smaller in proportion 10 his body than arc
those u tho eagle % the king u birds, he
has 70 Zap them more frequently 20 he flaps
away mt the rate Of 40 flaps to the minute.
lie has no lungs, but a system Of tiny air
tubes extend through all parts OF the body,
and these he packs with air when he wants
TO ny Neither has he a heart, but a dorSaI
vessel that pumps the blood 10 the head
The head, as magnified on the screen, Is not a
teautiful object, aud a. it is not the center OF
J
much II cut on II it were not for the eyes,
two n which have 600 lenses each to s'e the
honey flowers afar OF, and two others TO
assist in doing the microscopic work IN the
hive
The entrances 10 the hive are very care
fully guarded by antinels, and every bee On
arriving at the door Is challenged by them
with their antenne. II he can give the
.s.- l..fs - t,s-trv
but Il ho cannot he is in danger, for bees are
very nervous insects, and draw stings on the
slightest provocation, The applicant must
be a thief and old thieves are detected by ex-
perienced sentinels, but the form of challeng
ing must he gone through first
The old thief bee is fat and sleek and shin
ing and very suave. II caught by sentinels,
be will at once try 10 make a deal and offer
the policemen some sugar, and while they are
eating it he either slips in and fills up at the
cells or he retreats and tries another hive. If
the sentncls are incorruptibe, the thief humps
himself, draws his horny shields tight around
him 81 that the stings Of the policemen may
not penetrate and runs A young thief
stands up 10 fight and gets clubbed. He
learns by experience
The queen bee has not got such a very easy
time She has plenty TO eat and eats it, and
flies very little; but Rs she has to lay all the
eggs of the colony, and often lays more than
her weight Of eggs In one day, the tees be
grudge her nothing, but let her have her own
way everywhere
The droue 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 the girls and the queen,