HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 4-89 



tached into the double cavity, bordered with hairs, of the 

 mandibles. These fragments, pressed by others newly 

 separated, fall on one side of the mouth, and issue from 

 it in the form of a very narrow ribband. They are then 

 presented to the tongue, which impregnates them with a 

 frothy liquor like a houillie. During this operation the 

 tongue assumes all sorts of forms ; sometimes it is flat- 

 tened like a spatula ; then like a trowel, which applies 

 itself to the ribband of wax ; at other times it resembles 

 a pencil terminating in a point. After having moistened 

 the whole of the ribband, the tongue pushes it so as to 

 make it re-enter the mandibles, but in an opposite di- 

 rection, where it is worked up anew. The liquor mixed 

 with the wax communicates to it a whiteness and opacity 

 which it had not before ; and the object of this mixture 

 o^ houillie, which didnot escape the observation of Reau- 

 mur^, is doubtless to give it that ductility and tenacity, 

 which it possesses in its perfect state. 



The foundress-bee, a name which this first beginner 

 of a comb deserves, next applies these prepared parcels 

 of wax against the vault of the hive, disposing them with 

 the point of her mandibles in the direction which she 

 wishes them to take : and she continues these manoeuvres 

 until she has employed the whole lamina that she had 

 separated from her body, when she takes a second, pro- 

 ceeding in the same manner. She gives herself no care 

 to compress the molecules of wax which she has heaped 

 together ; she is satisfied if they adhere to each other. 

 At length she leaves her work, and is lost in the crowd 

 of her companions. Another succeeds, and resumes the 

 employment ; then a third ; all follow the same plan of 

 ^ Reauin. v. 424. 



