BEE. 301 
nor do we ^nd excrement at the bottom of it. 
The number of these cells is very different, in dif- 
ferent hives. I think I hav^e seen hives without 
any, and I have seen them with eleven or twelve, 
sometimes more. I have examined them at all 
times through the summer, but never found any 
alteration in them. 
‘‘ The comb seems at fir^ to be formed for pro- 
pagation, and the reception of honey to be only 
a secondary uscj for if the bees lose their queen, 
they make no combs; and the wasp, hornet, &c. 
make dombs, although they collect no honey; and 
the humble bee collects honey, and deposits it in 
cells she never made. 
“ I shall not consider the bee as an excellent 
mathematician, capable of making exact forms, 
and having reasoned upon the best shape of the 
cell for capacity, so that the greatest number 
might be put into the smallest space (for the 
hornet and the wasp are much more correct, 
although not seemingly under the same necessity, 
"as they collect nothing to occupy their cells) ; 
because, although the bee is pretty perfect in 
these respects, yet it is very incorrect in others, in 
the formation of the comb: nor shall I consider 
these animals as forming comb of certain shape 
and size, from mere mechanical necessity, as from 
working round themselves; for such a mould would 
not form cells of dilferent sizes, much less could 
wasps be guided by the same principle, as their 
cells are of very different sizes, and the first l)y 
much soo small for the queen wasp to have worked 
