My bees, killed by crushing the head, are thankfully accepted, and at first I see nothing to justify my suspicions.

Then my nurslings languish, show themselves disdainful of their food, give a negligent bite here and there, and finally, one and all, die beside their uncompleted meal.

All my attempts miscarry; not once do I succeed in rearing my larvae as far as the stage of spinning the cocoon.

Yet I am no novice in my duties as dry-nurse.

How many pupils have passed through my hands and have reached the final stage in my old sardine-boxes as well as in their native burrows! I shall draw no conclusions from this check, which my scruples may attribute to some unknown cause.