stance abroad. On the third day of their confinement, a loud noise was heard in the interior of the hive, and on examining it, all was found in confusion—the brood was abandoned—the bees ran in disorder over the combs—thousands rushed towards the entrance, and gnawed at its grating. The same symptoms of disorder showed themselves on the two following days, at which time the bees were allowed to escape, and the combs examined. The cells were found all vacant, and the brood had died, doubtless of hunger.
Was the want of farina the cause of this catastrophe? To decide the point, Huber supplied the same hive with fresh brood and abundance of farina, and confined them as before. Next day, they were observed busily employed in consolidating the brood combs that had been given them; and having discovered the farina, they were seen crowding to the cells containing it, extracting a supply, hurriedly mounting the combs, stopping at the cells containing brood, inserting their heads, and remaining in that position a considerable time. On the following day he inspected the combs, and found that all the larvæ had jelly, as in ordinary circumstances; that they had grown in size, and that some had been closed up to undergo their transformation into nymphs. Thus it is placed beyond all doubt that the young bees are nourished chiefly by that fine powdery substance which is found in the anthers of flowers, and is indispensable to their fecundity. Nature, ever wise and provident, has so disposed matters, that the insects which subsist on farina should be able to avail themselves of it
