•N BEES WAX. JL^ 



Bat if it was true that it had been obtained from the fecun- 

 dating powder previouily obtained, this fource was not inex* 

 hauftible, and the bees being unable to procure any more, 

 they would foon ceafe to conftrud combs, and fall into the moft 

 complete inaction. It was necelTary therefore to continue the 

 fame trial to render it decifive. 



The 28th, Burnens returned this fwarm into its hive, after 

 having taken out all the combs; he fliut them up as before with 

 a freth fupply of honey. 



This experiment was not long, for on the evening of ilie 

 fecond day we perceived the prifoners working with new wax. 

 The next day the hive vkras infpeded, and we found five combs, 

 as heavy and as regular as thofe made during their firft capti- 

 vity. 



We afterwards repeated this experiment five times fuccef- 

 (ively, with the fame bees, and the fame precautions: weal* 

 ways found that the honey had difappeared, and that new wax 

 was produced. This refult was fo invariable during this long 

 feclufion that we could no longer doubt that the honey alone 

 had fupplied them with all the elements of their wax, without 

 ihe afliflance of the fecundating duft. 



SECOND EXPERIMENT. 



On a Hive from Viihich Honey was excluded, and in which only 

 Pollen and Fruits for the Nourijhment of ihe Bees were left, 



I thought it would not be ufelefs to make the inverfe of the Exp. II; 

 prececjing experiments : it would fiiow me whether the pol- 

 len could not fupply the want of honey when the bees were 

 deprived of it, and enable them to produce wax. 

 . I therefore enclofed a fwarm in a bell-glafs, in which had 

 J)een placed a comb whofe cells contained only pollen, and the 

 folenourifhment of the bees was fruit. 



Thefe bees did not make wax, nor did they form a fingle 

 cell during eight days, which was the time of their capti- 

 vity. 



I was going to repeat this experiment, when Burnens re- Bees fed on 

 mark*;{J th^t the free bees were, in fome meafure, in the faraeP?"^" ^"'^ ^'"'^* 

 ftate as thofe we had confined ; there being no honey at that wax!° ^^ ^^ 

 time in the flowers, they found only pollen, and did not work 

 in wax. 



I may 



