BEE. 
298 
plane where they might have done so; but are 
often adapted to the situation, or shape of the 
cavity in which they are built. Tlie bees do not 
endeavour to shape their cavity to their work, as 
the wasps do, nor are the cells of equal depths, 
also fitting them to their situation; but as the 
breeding cells must all be of a given depth, they 
reserve a siifhcient number for breeding in, and 
they put the honey into the others, as also into 
the shallow ones. The attachment of the comb 
round the cavity is not continued, but interrupt- 
ed, so as to form passages ; there are also passages 
in the middle of the plates, especially if there be a 
cross stick to support the comb; these allow of 
bees to go across from plate to })late. The sub- 
stance which they use for attaching their combs 
to surroimding parts is not the same as the com- 
mon wax; it is softer and tougher, a good deal 
like the substance with which they cover in their 
chrysalis, or the humble bee surrounds her eggs. 
It is probably a mixture of wax with farina. The 
cells are placed nearly horizontally, but not ex- 
actly SO; the mouth raised a little, which probably 
may be to retain the honey the better; however 
this rule is not strictly observed, for often they 
are horizontal, and towards the lower edge of a 
])lane of comb they are often declining. The first 
combs that a hive forms are the smallest, and 
much neater than the last, or lowermost. Their 
sides, or partitions between cell and cell, are 
much thinner, and tlie hexagon is much more 
perfect. The wax is purer, being probalily little 
