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114
smearing them over with honey. Previously to swarming, they utter a peculiar sound, which may be compared to that of a small trumpet, as if to give notice to their companions of their intended removals The bee undergoes the same metatnorphoses as other insects.
it is time to turn your attention to their employments, and the materials they collect A hive frequently sends off a colony about the beginning fJune when the numbers of in habitants would be too large for their limits the young swarm prepares to quit their pa rental dwelling by hanging abbot the mouth of the entrance for some .lays as if watching for flue weather for taking their flight. It is sup posed that a young queen is their leader. When one goes on; they. all immediately foi iowa and fly about, seemingly in great confu sign, although there i one priucpie actuating the whole. Sometimes, after hovering in the a.ir a little, they fly away, mount upwards, and go off again with great velocity till they find. a convenient restingpIace ; such as thebmauch of a tree, the cavities of old trees, or' any other hollow place, suitable to their purpose. Their next business is to make their combs which they. begin directly. Wax is their znaterial; but whence do they procure it Jt has comnmQnly been thought from the farina of flowers; but Mr. r..,unter suggests adifii,rcnt
idea
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