This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1913. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... but Shakespeare gave expression to a very common error when he implied that these "thighs" of the bees were laden with wax. The bee, whether the honey-bee or the bumblebee, has two distinct errands in his visits to the blossoms. "He gathers honey all the day," 'tis true, but he also plunders the flower of its golden pollen at the same time, as we all know, from the plump "baskets" which we see him carrying as he hies back to the hive. But these yellow "saddlebags" are not "wax," as Shakespeare implies, nor have they any connection with the structure of the honeycomb. They are, in truth, tiny baskets filled with "bread" for the hungry bee babes in the hives. And a most singular diet it is that is served to those young epicures Let us catch this busy bee as it hums by on its way to the hive. The little brush of hairs on each of its hind legs is packed solid with the sticky mass of yellow powder, and a singular record it is of the life of the little insect that carries it If we dislodge even the smallest fragment of it, and moisten it in a drop of water upon the glass of our pocket microscope, what an assortment of curious vegetables Why, the grocer's or fruiterer's display upon the sidewalk is not a circumstance to it. There seems to be no limit to the varieties of rare and curious fruits which this busy bee manages to find in his visits to the flowers. Here are tiny melons and eggs and pears, prickly oranges, and decorated marbles, queer teaboxes, bombshells, bricks, and odd sorts of packages of all kinds. It is true that this particular bee which we have captured may have shown a partiality for some special form of fruit for this one week. Next week he will give his little ones a change, and again the week following, or with a special bill of fare, perhaps, f...