HIVE-BEES. 97 



has procured as mucli as the basket will conveniently hold, 

 she flies off with it to the hive. 



The Building of the Cells. 



The notion commonly entertained respecting glass hives 

 is altogether erroneous. Those w^ho are unacquainted with 

 bees imagine that, by means of a glass hive, all their pro- 

 ceedings may be easily watched and recorded ; but it is to 

 be remembered that bees are exceedingly averse to the 

 intrusion of light, and their first operation in such cases 

 is to close up every chink by which light can enter to dis- 

 turb them, either by clustering together, or by a plaster 

 composed of propolis. It consequently requires consider- 

 able management and ingenuity, even with the aid of a 

 glass hive, to see them actually at w^ork. M. Huber 

 employed a hive with leaves, which opened in the manner 

 of a book; and for some purposes he used a glass box, 

 inserted in the body of the hive, but easily brought into view 

 by means of screws. 



But no invention hitherto contrived is sufficient to ob- 

 viate every difficulty. The bees are so eager to afford 

 mutual assistance, and for this purpose so many of them 

 crowd together in rapid succession, that the operations of 

 individuals can seldom be traced. Though this crowding, 

 however, appears to an observer to be not a little con- 

 fused, it is all regulated with admirable order, as has 

 been ascertained by Keaumur and other distinguished 

 naturalists. 



When bees begin to build the hive, they divide them- 

 selves into bands, one of which produces materials for the 

 structure ; another works upon these, and forms them into 

 a rough sketch of the dimensions and partitions of the cells. 

 All this is completed by the second band, who examine and 

 adjust the angles, remove the superfluous wax, and give the 

 work its necessary perfection ; and a third band brings pro- 

 visions to the labourers, who cannot leave their work. But 

 no distribution of food is made to those whose charge, in 

 collecting propolis and pollen, calls them to the field, 

 because it is supposed they will hardly forget themselves ; 



H 



