52 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. III. 



and then, like a skilful mason, proceeded to exca- 

 vate exactly in the centre, as much of the block as 

 equalled the diameter of a common cell ; and after 

 kneading the material which it had removed, the in- 

 sect placed it carefully at the sides of the excava- 

 tion. Having - performed its task, it was succeeded 

 by a second bee ; and in this maimer upwards of 

 twenty workers succeeded each other, each one tak- 

 ing care to push forwards the material excavated so 

 as to extend the walls of the cell. When the cell 

 had risen and been extended on one side, a bee quit- 

 ted the swarm, and after encircling the block, began 

 on the side opposite to that of the first cell, and, as- 

 sisted by another, sketched out two, which were 

 so situated, that the partition between them was 

 precisely opposite the first cell, on the reverse side. 

 Those who wish for a more minute detail of this 

 operation may consult Huber's account. They ne- 

 ver at first begin two masses for combs at the same 

 time, but scarcely are some rows of cells constructed 

 in the first comb, before two other masses, one on 

 each side of it, are established at equal distances 

 from it, and then again two more exterior to these. 



As the stock of raw material is gradually exhausted 

 during the progress of these operations, the wax 

 workers continue adding to it a fresh supply. The 

 expedition with which they effect their various objects 

 is very great. When settled for the first time in a new 

 hive, they will sometimes construct a comb twenty- 

 seven inches long, by seven or eight inches wide, in 

 the space of twenty-four hours ; and in the course 

 of five or six days they will half-fill the hive : hence 

 it appears, that, in the first fifteen days after they take 

 possession of a new habitation, there is as much wax 

 made as they elaborate during the remainder of the 

 year. 



There are three sorts of cells ; the first are for the 

 larvae of workers; the second for those of the males 

 or drones, which are larger than the former, and are 



