302 BEE. 
round herself: but I sliall consider the whole as 
an instinctive principle, in which the animal has 
no power of variation, or choice, but such as arises 
from what may be called external necessity. The 
cell has in common six sides, but this is most 
correct in those first formed; and their bottom is 
commonly composed of those sides, or planes, 
two of the sides making one; and they generally 
fall in between the bottoms of three cells of the 
opposite side; but this is not regular, it is only to 
be found where there is no external interruption. 
I have already observed, that the last formed 
cells in the season are not so well made: that 
their partitions are thicker, and more of a yellow 
colour : this arises, I imagine, from the wax being 
less pure, having more alloy in it; and therefore, 
not being so strong, more of it is required. The 
bees would appear to reserve many of their cells 
for honey, and those are mostly at the upper part. 
In old hives, of several years standing, I have 
found the upper part of the comb free from the 
consequences of having bred, such as the silk 
lining, and the excrement of the maggots at the 
bottom ; while the lower part, for probably more 
than one half of the plane of cells, shewed strong 
marks of having contained many broods of young 
bees. In such the lining of silk is thick at the 
.sides, composed of many laminae; and in many, 
the bottom is half filled uj) with excrement; and 
I observed at sucli })arts, the comb was thickest at 
its mouth; which inclines me to think, that wlien a 
cell becomes shallow, by the bottom being in 
