314 HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 



and what is most astonishing, this augmentation is made by the wax- 

 makers, who are the depositaries of the primary matter, and possess not 

 the art of sculpturing the cells. 



The bees never begin two masses for combs at the same time ; but 

 scarcely are some rows of cells constructed in the first, when two other 

 masses, one on each side of it, are established at equal distances from it 

 and parallel to it, and then again two more exterior to these. The 

 combs are always enlarged and lengthened in a progression proportioned 

 to the priority of their origin ; the middle comb being constantly advanced 

 beyond the two adjoining ones by some rows of cells, and they beyond 

 those that are exterior to them. Was it permitted to these insects to lay 

 the foundation of all their combs at the same time, they could not be 

 placed conveniently or parallel to each other. So with respect to the 

 cells, the first cavity determines the place of all that succeed it. 



A large number of bees work at the same time on the same comb ; but 

 they are not moved to it by a simultaneous but by a successive impulse. 

 A single bee begins every partial operation, and many others in succes- 

 sion add their efforts to hers, each appearing to act individually in a direc- 

 tion impressed either by the workers who have preceded it, or by the 

 condition in which it finds the work. The whole population of wax- 

 makers is in a state of the most complete inaction till one bee goes forth 

 to lay the foundations of the first comb. Immediately others second her 

 intentions, adding to the height and length of the mass ; and when they 

 cease to act, a bee, if the teim may be used, of another profession, one of 

 the nurse-bees, goes to form the draft of the first cell, in which she is 

 succeeded by others.^ 



The diameters of the cells intended for the larvae of workers is always 

 2g lines, that of those meant for the larvae of the males or drones 3* lines. 

 The male cells are generally in the middle of the combs, or in their sides ; 

 rarely in their upper part. They are never insulated, but form a corres- 

 ponding group on both sides of the comb. When the bees form male 

 cells below those of neuters, they construct many rows of intermediate 

 ones, the diameter of which augments progressively till it attains that of 

 a male cell ; and they observe the same method when they revert from 

 male cells to those of neuters. It appears to be the oviposition of the 

 queen which decides the kind of cells that are to be made : while she lays 

 the eggs of workers, no male cells are constructed ; but when she is about 

 to lay the eggs of males, the neuters appear to know it, and act accord- 

 ingly. When there is a very large harvest of honey, the bees increase 

 the diameter and even the length of their cells. At this time many 

 irregular combs may be seen with cells of twelve, fifteen, and even 

 eighteen lines in length. Sometimes, also, they have occasion to shorten 



» Some late physiologists and entomologists have contended with Buffon that there is in 

 tact nothing wonderlul in the hexagonal form of the cells of bees, which are at first really- 

 cylindrical (thus corresponding with the form of their bodies), but forced to assume the six- 

 sided form by the pressure on their sides of the multitude of bees engaged upon them ; but 

 surely if these authors had read Ruber's work with attention they must have perceived that 

 the fact staled by him above, that however large the number of bees at work on a comb, 

 they do not work simultaneously, but si/ccessivcli/, " each appearing to act individually in a 

 direction impressed either by the workers who have preceded it. or by the condition in which 

 it finds the work," is utterly at variance with their theory, as is indeed the whole of Ruber's 

 lucid and distinct relation. 



