Bees have six legs; and in hindmost, There are baskets found, or bags, Into which the pollen gathered, Is brushed off by the other legs. And this pollen, for the bee-bread And as food for young, they use, Mixed with honey and with water,-- Swallowed and disgorged like juice By the nurses, who digest it Partly, for the larvae-food, Taking care that each shall have it, Just according to the brood. {207} Now we'll watch and see them working; See them brush off pollen-dust; See them, too, disgorge the honey, Into cells the sweetness thrust. Children, with your useful fingers, Hands and arms and feet and head, Do not let the bees surpass you, Making honey, nay, nor bread. {208} _WHAT THEY SAY._ Those creatures that chew the cud, The "RUMINANTS" we call, From "Rumen," or the stomach-pouch, In which their food doth fall. A "SPECIES" is a kind Of animals or plants;-- Each species has a different name, And differing traits and wants,-- And species may unite To form a RACE we know, For _race_ from _root_ is always drawn, And _roots_ must spread and grow. {209} That men and women are The race most choice and fine, We plainly see, and sometimes call, The _Human Race Divine_. {210} The noble Horse neighs out, "I am the race _Equine_, And nearest seem, and dearest to The 'human race, divine.'" The Ox and Cow l-o-o, l-o-o, "We are the race _Bovine_; And we most useful are, unto The 'human race, divine.'" {211} The Ass and Mule bray out, "Our race is_ Assinine_, And very like us seem some of The 'human race, divine.'" The Dog bow-wows as race _Canine, Canine, Canine_; {212} While Tigers, Cats and Catamounts, G-r-o-w-l, growl, as race _Feline_. The Lion, king of beasts (Feline), roars "_Leonine_;"-- The Lamb that's to lie down with him, Ba-a, ba-as for race _Ovine_. {213} Fishes in lakes or seas or rivers Sport _Piscine_; While birds in air or cages close, Sing, "race _Avine, Avine_." All bees in hives or wild, Hum out the race _Apine_; {214} And reptiles all rejoicing crawl In race _Reptilian_. * * * * * I've a name that's made up of three letters alone,-- That reads backwards and forwards the same; I speak without sound,--yes, I talk without tongue. And to beauty I lay the first claim. * * * * * A word of three syllables, children, now find, That holds the whole twenty-six letters combined. [1] The B ing m t, John put some: [2] stand take to taking ----- ---- -- ------ [3] I you throw my [Footnote 1: Alphabet] [Footnote 2: The grate being empty, John put some coal on.] [Footnote 3: I understand you undertake to overthrow my undertaking.] {215} _BRITAIN'S RULERS_.