INSTINCT 207 



one cell at the same time, but only the one rhombic plate 

 which stands on the extreme growing margin, or the 

 two plates, as the case may be ; and they never com- 

 plete the upper edges of the rhombic plates, until the 

 hexagonal walls are commenced. Some of these state- 

 ments differ from those made by the justly celebrated 

 elder Huber, but I am convinced of their accuracy ; 

 and if I had space, I could show that they are conform- 

 able with my theory. 



Huber's statement that the very first cell is 

 excavated out of a little parallel-sided wall of wax, is 

 not, as far as I have seen, strictly correct ; the first 

 commencement having always been a little hood of 

 wax ; but I will not here enter on these details. We 

 see how important a part excavation plays in the con- 

 struction of the cells ; but it would be a great error to 

 suppose that the bees cannot build up a rough wall of 

 wax in the proper position — that is, along the plane of 

 intersection between two adjoining spheres. I have 

 several specimens showing clearly that they can do 

 this. Even in the rude circumferential rim or wall of 

 wax round a growing comb, flexures may sometimes be 

 observed, corresponding in position to the planes of the 

 rhombic basal plates of future cells. But the rough 

 wall of wax has in every case to be finished off, by 

 being largely gnawed away on both sides. The manner 

 in which the bees build is curious ; they always make 

 the first rough wall from ten to twenty times thicker 

 than the excessively thin finished wall of the cell, 

 which will ultimately be left. We shall understand 

 how they work, by supposing masons first to pile up a 

 broad ridge of cement, and then to begin cutting it 

 away equally on both sides near the ground, till a 

 smooth, very thin wall is left in the middle ; the 

 masons always piling up the cut-away cement, and 

 adding fresh cement, on the summit of the ridge. We 

 shall thus have a thin wall steadily growing upward ; 

 but always crowned by a gigantic coping. From all 

 the cells, both those just commenced and those com- 

 pleted, being thus crowned by a strong coping of wax, 



