It does not entirely cool off and get soberly to work till it has madetwo or three trips home with its booty. When other bees come, even ifall from the same swarm, they quarrel and dispute over the box,and clip and dart at each other like bantam cocks. Apparently the illfeeling which the sight of the honey awakens is not one of jealousy orrivalry, but wrath.

A bee will usually make three or four trips from the hunter's boxbefore it brings back a companion. I suspect the bee does not tellits fellows what it has found, but that they smell out the secret;it doubtless bears some evidence with it upon its feet or proboscisthat it has been upon honey-comb and not upon flowers, and itscompanions take the hint and follow, arriving always many secondsbehind. Then the quantity and quality of the booty would also betrayit. No doubt, also, there are plenty of gossips about a hive thatnote and tell everything. "0h, did you look at that? Peggy Mel came ina few moments ago in great haste, and one of the up-stairs packers saysshe was loaded till she groaned with apple-blossom honey which shedeposited, and then rushed off again like mad. Apple-blossom honeyin 0ctober! Fee, fi, fo, fum! I smell something! Let's after."