The two naturalists (we do not hesitate to give this title to the poor peasant of the canton of Vaud who so well seconded his master in his long hours of study) conceived a host of original experiments, which led them to discover truths which no one up to that time had dreamt of. The results of their researches were published, in 1789, in a volume which produced a profound sensation among naturalists.[81] Burnens was at a later period called back to the bosom of his family, and invested by his fellow-citizens with important functions. Francis Huber then continued his observations through the eyes of the excellent wife he had married. A second volume was thus composed by him twenty years after the appearance of the first. This volume was published by his son, Pierre Huber, to whom we are indebted for the admirable researches concerning ants, of which we shall have to speak further on. [81] "Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles," par François Huber. Paris et Genève, in 8vo. 2e edition. 1814. We will now speak of the habits of the bees. The labours of Réaumur, of Schirach, and of Huber, have perfectly revealed them to us, and have initiated us completely into the habits of these precious insects, which are for us to a certain extent domestic animals. We will begin by describing the Common Bee (_Apis mellifica_). During the greater part of the year the population of our hives is composed exclusively of two sorts of individuals--the female, or mother bee, called also the queen bee; and the working bees, or neuters, which are, properly speaking, females incompletely developed. A third kind of individuals, the males, called also drones, are generally not met with except from May to July. [Illustration: Fig. 309.--Working Bee (_Apis mellifica_).] The working bees are the people, the crowd, the _servum pecus_, the living force, the bee community. They are recognised by their small size, reddish brown colour, and, above all, by the palettes and brushes with which the hind legs are furnished.