BEE. 
293. 
for a fortnight, or more, and then swarm; and 
when they do, the swarm is commonly much 
larger than before, which makes me suspect that 
they waited for the queen that w'as to have gone^ 
off with the next swarm. 
‘‘ So far we have set the colony in motion. The 
materials of their dwelling, or comb, which is the 
W'ax, is the next consideration, with the mode of 
forming, preparing, or disposing of it. In giving 
a totally new account of the wax, I shall first 
show it can hardly be what it has been supposed 
to be. First, I shall observe that the materials, 
as they are found composing the comb, are not to 
be found in the same state (as a composition) in 
any vegetable, where they have been supposed to 
be got. Tlie substance brought in on their legs, 
which is the farina of the flowers of plants, is, in 
common, I believe, imagined to be the materials 
of which the wax is made, for it is called by most 
the wax: but it is the farina, for it is always of 
the same colour as the farina of the flower where 
they are gathering ; and indeed we see them 
gathering it, and we also see them covered almost 
all over with it, like a dust; nevertheless, it has 
been supposed to be tlie wax, or that the 
wax was extracted from it. Reaumur is of this 
opinion. I made several experiments to see if 
there was such a quantity of oil in it, as would 
account for the quantity of wax to be formed, and 
to learn if it w as composed of oil. I held it near 
the candle; it burnt, but did not smell like wgx, 
Q,nd had the same smell, when burning, as flirina 
