Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/82

78 viscous matter covering them, for three days; on the fourth, the shell, or thin enveloping membrane, bursts, and a small lively worm is deposited at the bottom. The nursing-bees instantly enter upon their vocation, and administer a copious supply of liquid food—of which farina, honey, and probably water, are the ingredients. As the larva increases in growth, the attention of the Bees in nourishing it is augmented, and indeed unremitting; for at whatever time we inspect a brood-comb, we shall observe hundreds of nurses with their bodies inserted in the cells supplying the wants of the infant progeny. Although in the vermicular state, and consequently without feet, the larvæ are capable of moving in a spiral direction. During the first three days, their motion is so slow as to be scarcely perceptible, but it afterwards becomes more evident, and they have been observed to perform two complete revolutions in less than two hours. The slightest movement of the nurse-bees approaching to minister to their wants, is sufficient to attract them to their food, which they devour most voraciously, and it is unsparingly lavished upon them. At first the liquor is nearly insipid, but acquires gradually a perceptible flavour of honey, and becomes more and more saccharine and transparent in proportion as the larva advances in growth. "It is indescribable," says Feburier, "the care which the workers lavish on these little nurslings, towards whom they seem to cherish the tenderest attachment. A comb filled with brood, and placed in an empty hive, never fails to retain them there, to the utter disregard