360 APPENDIX. 



These columns are considerably stronger and thicker than the 

 sides of the cells which they support. 



The cells appear to be destined solely for the habitation of 

 the young bees ; for in all that have been examined bees have 

 been found. The bee is placed in the cell with its hinder 

 parts directed towards the mouth of the cell, which is covered 

 by a granular mass, probably composed of the pollen of plants. 

 The form of the cells is hexangular, but the angles are not 

 sharply defined, and the mouth is scarcely, if at all, thicker 

 than the sides. In their dimensions and relative pi-oportions 

 they differ materially from those of the European, and still 

 more from those of the Indian bees, as may be seen by the 

 subjoined table : 



Mexican. European. Indian. 



Diameter of cell . 2^ 24 • 3^ 1 J . 2-§- 



Depth of ditto .4 5.6 H . 6 



All of those which are visible appear to be uniform in size ; nor 

 without the destruction of the specimen can it be ascertained 

 whether there are any larger cells for the larvae of the males 

 of the queen. 



The combs are placed together at some distance from the 

 opening of the hive, and form a group of an oval shape, con- 

 sisting of five horizontal and parallel layers, occupying the 

 part most remote from the opening ; of an interrupted verti- 

 cal layer applied to the side opposed to the opening ; and of 

 two principal, and two or three smaller, vertical layers in the 

 middle. The whole of these are supported by wax, spread 

 out into layers borne on processes of the same material, rest- 

 ing either on the wood of the cavity, or on other parts of the 

 fabric of the comb. In these processes and layers of wax are 

 numerous openings of various sizes, at once admitting of 

 ready access for the inhabitants to every part of the hive, and 

 economizing the use of the material of which they are con- 

 structed. Some of the openings are of large dimensions. 

 The entrance into the hive is continued into a long gallery, 

 which, to judge from the direction taken by a flexible sub- 

 stance introduced into it, leads beneath the combs to their 



