THE “SHOWN TO THE CHILDREN” SERIES 1. BEASTS With 48 Coloured Plates by PERCY J. BILLINGHURST. Letterpress by LENA DALKEITH. 2. FLOWERS With 48 Coloured Plates showing 150 flowers, by JANET HARVEY KELMAN. Letterpress by C. E. SMITH. 3. BIRDS With 48 Coloured Plates by M. K. C. SCOTT. Letterpress by J. A. HENDERSON. 4. THE SEA-SHORE With 48 Coloured Plates by JANET HARVEY KELMAN. Letterpress by Rev. THEODORE WOOD. 5. THE FARM With 48 Coloured Plates by F. M. B. and A. H. BLAIKIE. Letterpress by FOSTER MEADOW. 6. TREES With 32 Coloured Plates by JANET HARVEY KELMAN. Letterpress by C. E. SMITH. 7. NESTS AND EGGS With 48 Coloured Plates by A. H. BLAIKIE. Letterpress by J. A. HENDERSON. 8. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS With 48 Coloured Plates by JANET HARVEY KELMAN. Letterpress by Rev. THEODORE WOOD. 9. STARS By ELLISON HAWKS. 10. GARDENS With 32 Coloured Plates by J. H. KELMAN. Letterpress by J. A. HENDERSON. 11. BEES By ELLISON HAWKS. Illustrated in Colour and Black and White. THE “SHOWN TO THE CHILDREN” SERIES EDITED BY LOUEY CHISHOLM BEES [Illustration: Pollen gathers on Buttercups] BEES SHOWN TO THE CHILDREN BY ELLISON HAWKS Member of the British Bee Keepers’ Association, etc., etc. Author of “Stars” [Illustration] ILLUSTRATED LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK NEW YORK: THE PLATT & PECK CO. TO MY TWO LITTLE FRIENDS ANNIE AND KATIE THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED ABOUT THIS BOOK Dear Annie and Katie,--When I was a little boy I often wished that my soldiers would come to life. I used to think how grand it would be if only I could have a city of little people on the dining-room table. Of course my dreams never came true, even though one day I had a brilliant idea, and wrapped a whole regiment of soldiers in flannel and put them in the oven, hoping that in this way I should find them really alive next morning! But nowadays I have a wonderful city of tiny workers, that can be put on a table. In it there are soldiers, food gatherers, bread-makers, undertakers, and a host of others. It is ruled over by a queen, and each day the gates of the city are crowded with the workers, who pass in and out in hundreds. Have you guessed that my wonderful city is really a bee-hive? Although I cannot command my little friends to do this thing or that, to come here or go there, yet I am quite content to leave them to their own ways, and just to watch them in their daily life, and to study their customs and laws. In this little book I intend to tell you something about my bees. I hope that you will be interested to read what I have written, and then perhaps, later on, when you grow up, you may keep bees, and you will be able to study their wonderful ways for yourselves.