Inquisitive Jack.CHAPTERVII.About the Bees.
About the Bees.
Inthe preceding chapter we have told how Jack became interested about the bees: in this, we have promised to relate some of those curious things which his aunt Piper told him,—respecting the manners and customs of these ingenious and wonderful insects.
The bees, being domesticated by mankind, have been carefully studied by many learned and curious persons; butM.Huber, a Swiss gentleman, has done more than any other man to make us acquainted with them. And yet Huber was blind! His wife assisted him in his observations; and thus, by making use of her eyes, he was able to pursue his studies with great success. Is it not interesting to think of this blind philosopher, who, while all was darkness and night to him, was yet able to amuse himself, and prepare a book which should continue long to please and enlighten mankind?
There are three different kinds of bees in every hive. First, the laboring bees, which make up the far greatest number, and are thought to be neither male nor female, but merely born for the purposes of labor and continuing the breed by supplying the young with provision while yet in their helpless state.
The second sort are the drones; they are of a darker color, longer, and more thick by one third than the former; they are supposed to be the males; and there are not above a hundred of them in a hive of seven or eight thousand bees. The third sort is much larger than either of the former, and there is never but one permitted to live in a swarm. These are called queen bees, and lay all the eggs from which the whole swarm is hatched in a season.
In examining the structure of the common working bee, the first thing that attracts our attention is the trunk which serves to extract the honey from flowers. It is not formed like that of other flies, in the form of a tube by which the honey is to be sucked up; but like a broom to sweep, or a tongue to lick itaway. The animal is furnished also with teeth, which serve it in making wax. This substance is gathered from flowers, like honey; it consists of that dust or farina, which contributes to the fruitfulness of plants, and is moulded into wax by the little animal at leisure.
Every bee, when it leaves the hive to collect its precious store, enters into the cups of the flower, particularly such as seem charged with the greatest quantities of this yellow farina. As the animal’s body is covered with hair, it rolls itself within the flower, and soon becomes quite covered with the dust, which it soon after brushes off with its two hind legs, and kneads into two little balls.
In the thighs of the hind legs there are two cavities, edged with hair, and into these, as into a basket, the animal sticks the rolls or pellets which it has collected. Thus employed, the bee flies from flower to flower, increasing its store and adding to its stock of wax, until the ball upon the thigh becomes as big as a grain of pepper; by this time, having got a sufficient load, it returns, making the best of its way to the hive.
The lower part of the body or belly of the bee is divided into six rings, which sometimes shorten the body by slipping one over the other. It contains within it, besides the intestines, the honey-bag, the venom-bag, and the sting. The honey-bag is as transparent as crystal, containing the honey that the bee has brushed from the flowers; of which the greater part is carried to the hive, and poured into the cells of the honey-comb, while the remainder serves for the bee’s own nourishment; for, during the summer, it never touches what has been laid up for winter.
The sting, which serves to defend this little animal from its enemies, is composed of three parts; the sheath, and two darts which are extremely small and penetrating. Both the darts have several small points or barbs, like those of a fish-hook, which render the sting more painful, and make the darts rankle in the wound. Still, however, this instrument would be a very slight defence, did not the bee poison the wound. The sheath, which has a sharp point, makes the first impression, which is followed by that of the darts, and then the venomous liquor is poured in.
The sheath, with the barbs, sometimes sticks so fast in the wound, that the animal is obliged to leave it behind; in consequence of which, the bee soon after dies, and the wound is considerably inflamed. It might at first appear well for mankind, if the bee were without its sting; but upon recollection it will be found that the little animal would then have too many rivals in sharing its labors. A hundred other lazy animals, fond of honey, and hating labor, would intrude upon the sweets of the hive; and the treasure would be carried off for want of armed guardians to protect it. As the bee lays up a most delicious store, it was obviously necessary that it should have some extraordinary defence, and so the sting was provided. Is it not easy to see wisdom in this provision of nature?
The most interesting point of view in which we can regard bees, is not as separate individuals, but as societies or communities. In this light, they indeed astonish us. It being necessary that their hives should be tight, the first thing is to stop up all the crevices, which they do with a kind of resinous gum, which resists the weather.
They then proceed to form their cells, which we call honey-comb. These are built in hexagons, or six-sided figures; and mathematicians tell us that this form is the very best, as it unites the greatest strength with the greatest capacity. The philosophers found out this fact by deep study—but who told thelittle bees of it? They never went to college to learn mathematics. How then should they always build their cells in hexagons?
This was one of the questions put by Jack to his aunt Piper, and she answered it as follows. Bees are provided with wonderful knowledge, which we call instinct. It is born with them, and as soon as they go to work, they proceed according to this instinct. This is a part of their nature, and it is given to them by God who made them. He knows everything—he knows that a hexagon is the best form for the bees to build their cells in, and so he furnished them with an instinct, which leads them to follow this method of building. Is it not interesting to see the Almighty God thus displaying his knowledge and skill, for the benefit of even the little bees?
I have more to tell you on this subject, but I must defer it foranother chapter.