90 INSECT ARCHITECTUKE. 



secreting vessels for this purpose have hitherto escaped 

 the researches of the acvitest naturalists. Huber, however, 

 plausibly enough conjectures that they are contained in 

 the internal lining of the wax-pockets, which consists of a 

 cellular substance reticulated with hexagons. The w^ax- 

 pockets themselves, which are concealed b}^ the over- 

 lapping of the rings, may be seen by pressing the abd(jmen 

 of a worker-bee so as to lengthen it, and separate the rings 

 further from each other. AYhen this lias been done, there 

 may be seen on each of the four intermediate hoops of the 

 belly, and separated by what may be called the keel 

 (carina), two whitish-coloured pouches, of a soft texture, 

 and in the form of a trapezium. AVithin, the little scales 

 or plates of wax are produced from time to time, and are 



Abdomen of Wax- worker Bee. 



removed and employed as we shall presently see. We may 

 remark, that it is chiefly the wax-workers which produce 

 the wax; for though the nurse-bees are furnished with 

 wax-pockets, they secrete it only in very small quantities ; 

 while in the queen-bee, and the males or drones, no pockets 

 are discoverable. 



" All the scales," says Huber, " are not alike in every 

 bee, for a difference is perceptible in consistence, shape, 

 and thickness ; some are so thin and transparent as to 



