HIVE-BEES. 125 



^' This foundation, originally very small, was en- 

 larged as the work required; while they excavated 

 on one side a hollow, of about the width of a com- 

 mon cell, and on the opposite surface two others 

 somewhat more elongated. The middle of the single 

 cell corresponded exactly to the partition separating 

 the latter; the arches of these excavations, projecting 

 by the accumulation of wax, were converted into 

 ridges in a straight hne; whence the cells of the first 

 row were composed of five sides, considering the 

 shp as one side, and those of the second row, of six 

 sides. 



Foundation-wall enlarged, and the cells cothmenced. 



" The interior conformation of the cavities, ap- 

 parently, was derived from the position of their re- 

 spective outlines. It seemed that the bees, endowed 

 with an admirable delicacy of feeling, directed their 

 teeth principally to the place where the wax was 

 thickest; that is, the parts where other workers on 

 the opposite side had accumulated it; and this ex- 

 plains why the bottom of the cell is excavated in an 

 angular direction behind the projection on the sides 

 of which the sides of the corresponding cells are to 

 rise. The largest of the excavations, which was op- 

 posite to three others, was divided into three parts, 

 while the excavations of the first row on the other 

 face, apphed against this one, were composed of only 

 two. 



" In consequence of the manner in which the ex- 

 cavations were opposed to each other, those of the 

 second row, and all subsequent, partially applied to 

 three cavities, were composed of three equal diamond- 



VOL IV. 11^ 



