222 



EX P EMM EX TA L FAR MS. 



Table of Averages. 



Particulars respecting the colour and appearance of the foundations and their resulting 

 honey-comb are contained in the subjoined memoranda : 



A. & B. — Foundation, nearly white, clear and bright ; in the honey-comb it was 

 only a shade darker than the cells. 



C. & D. — Foundation a shade darker than A, but almost white. Honey-comb 

 very similar to A. 



E. & F. — Foundation a bright yellow, clear ; in comb, several shades darker than 

 cells, colour gradually diminishing from foundation plate to top of cells. 



G. & H.— Foundation very pale yellow ; in comb it is slightly more yellow in inner 

 section than in outer ; somewhat darker than wax of cells. 



I. & J. — Foundation brownish-yellow, not so light as E. In comb it is consider- 

 ably darker than cells, colour shading off from centre. 



K. & L. — Foundation almost identical in colour with that of preceding ; in comb, 

 yellowish brown and considerably darker than the cells, colour shading off as 

 in I. & J. On the whole, very similar in appearance to the preceding. 



M. — Foundation a very pale yellow, in colour this comes between E. and A. ; in 

 in comb almost white, scarcely any difference in colour to be distinguished 

 between it and the cells. + 



N. — Foundation a bright yellow, a little lighter in colour than E. ; incomb, colour 

 almost gone and in this particular scarcely distinguishable from cells. 

 -Foundation bright yellow, a shade darker than N., probably owing to greater 

 thickness; in comb, pale yellow and in this respect differing from N., does 

 not show the same sha iing off from centre as noticed in some of the heavier 

 foundations. 



-Foundation, deep yellowish brown, the darkest in the series, appears to be 

 more elastic than M., which is of about the same weight and from the same 

 mill ; foundation in comb, brownish yellow, colour extending about one half 

 the depth of the cells. 



O.- 



P- 



Deductions from the above Data. 



1. — That a certain minimum weight of wax is apparently required for the con- 

 struction and strength of the cells, although not necessarily the same weight is required 

 in every case. 



2. — That when a light (in weight) foundation is supplied, the bees make up the 

 deficiency ; in other words, the weight of wax produced by the bees is inversely pro- 

 portional to the amount of wax supplied as foundation. 



This is well illustrated by M. and O, and is borne out to a greater or lesser extent 

 (with one or two exceptions) by the other members of the series. It points emphafci- 



