I am sure you will join me in giving our best thanks to my friends who have so kindly helped me in the preparation of some of the pictures: to Mr. W. Barker, Mr. D. Ingham, Mr. H. Mackie, Mr. G. W. Stephenson; and to Mr. J. Lambert for permission to use Plates Nos. XIV., XV., XXVII., XXIX. and XXX. My thanks are due also to Mr. W. H. McCormick for his kindness in reading over the proofs. Yours truly, ELLISON HAWKS. 10 GRANGE TERRACE, LEEDS, 1912. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. ABOUT THE BEE 1 II. THE QUEEN BEE 3 III. THE DRONE 5 IV. THE WORKER BEE 7 V. THE MICROSCOPE 8 VI. THE HEAD 10 VII. THE WONDERFUL ANTENNÆ 12 VIII. THE EYES 16 IX. THE TONGUE AND MOUTH PARTS 20 X. THE JAWS 23 XI. THE THORAX 25 XII. THE LEGS 27 XIII. THE FIRST PAIR OF LEGS 29 XIV. THE SECOND AND THIRD PAIR OF LEGS 31 XV. THE WINGS 33 XVI. THE ABDOMEN 36 XVII. THE BREATHING APPARATUS 39 XVIII. THE STING 41 XIX. THE ANCIENTS AND BEES 44 XX. THE HIVE 49 XXI. A VISIT TO A HIVE 52 XXII. THE CITY GATE 54 XXIII. THE GUARD BEES 58 XXIV. WORKERS IN THE CITY 60 XXV. THE COMB BUILDERS 63 XXVI. THE LIFE OF THE BEE 68 XXVII. THE STORY OF THE QUEEN 72 XXVIII. THE POLLEN GATHERERS 74 XXIX. THE VARNISH MAKERS 77 XXX. THE NECTAR GATHERERS 79 XXXI. THE WINTER SLEEP 82 XXXII. THE SWARM 84 XXXIII. TAKING THE SWARM 87 XXXIV. THE OLD HIVE AFTER A SWARM 89 XXXV. THE MASSACRE OF THE DRONES 91 XXXVI. HONEY 93 XXXVII. MODERN BEE-KEEPING 96 XXXVIII. THE BEES’ ENEMIES 99 XXXIX. POWERS OF COMMUNICATION 101 XL. BEE FLOWERS 104 XLI. POLLEN 107 XLII. BEES AND FLOWERS 110 XLIII. HOW FLOWERS PROTECT THEIR NECTAR 113