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THE HONEY-BEE:
ITS NATURE, HOMES, AND PRODUCTS.
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THE HONEY-BEE
ITS NATURE, HOMES, AND PRODUCTS.
BY
W. H. HARRIS, B.A., B.Sc.
LONDON:
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY,
56, Paternoster Row; 65, St. Paul's Churchyard,
and 164, Piccadilly.
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LONDON:
R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, Printers,
BREAD STREET HILL.
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CONTENTS.
PAGES
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
HISTORIC SKETCH.
Holy Scriptures—Vedas—Egyptian Monuments—The Koran—EtymologicalConsiderations—Literature of Subject—Aristotle—Philiscus—Pliny—Vergil—Columella—OtherClassical Authors—Shakespeare—Modern Writers.
CHAPTER II.
NATURAL HISTORY.
Orders of Insects—Stages of Development—Egg, Larva, Pupa,Imago or Perfect Insect—Three Classes of Bees: Queen,Drones, Workers.
CHAPTER III.
THE QUEEN-BEE.
Early Errors as to Sex—The "Mother Bee"—DistinguishingCharacteristics—Functions—Attentions paid her—Effects ofLoss; how Repaired by Bees—Enmity to Rivals—Length ofLife—Egg-laying.
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CHAPTER IV.
THE DRONES.
Distinguishing Characteristics—Time of Hatching—Numbers—Purposesserved by them—Destruction by Workers or othermeans—Unusual Survival.
CHAPTER V.
THE WORKERS.
Distinguishing Characteristics—Supposed Differences of Functionamong them—Sir John Lubbock's Experiments—FertileWorkers—Length of Life—"Black Bees"—Duties ofWorkers.
CHAPTER VI.
HONEY.
Origin—How Collected and Stored—Constitution—PoisonousH