108 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



subsequent to their laying a foundation for the first cell ; 

 and we shall again quote from his own narrative : — 



" It appeared to me," he says, " that the onl}^ method of 

 isolating the architects, and bringing them individually 

 into view, would be to induce them to change the direc- 

 tion of their operations and work upwards. 



" I had a box made twelve inches square and nine deep, 

 with a moveable glass lid. Combs, full of brood, honey, 

 and pollen, were next selected from one of my leaf -hives, 

 as containing what might interest the bees, and being cut 

 into pieces a foot long, and four inches deep, they were 

 arranged vertically at the bottom of the box, at the 

 same intervals as the insects themselves usually leave 

 between them! A small slip of wooden lath covered the 

 upper edge of each. It was not probable that the bees 

 woidd attempt to. found new combs on the glass roof of 

 the box, because it5 smoothness precluded the swarm from 

 adhering to it ; therefore, if disposed to build, they could do 

 so over the slips resting on the combs, which left a vacuity 

 five inches high above them. As we had foreseen, the 

 swarm with which this box was peopled established itself 

 among the combs below. We then observed the nurse-bees 

 displaying their natural activity. They dispersed them- 

 selves throughout the hive, to feed tlie young grubs, to 

 clear out their lodgment, and adapt it for their convenience. 

 Certainly, the combs, which were roughly cut to fit the 

 bottom of the box, and in some parts damaged, appeared to 

 them shapeless and misplaced ; for they speedily com- 

 menced their reparation. They beat down the old wax, 

 kneaded it between their teeth, and thus formed binding 

 materials to consolidate them. We were astonished beyond 

 expression by such a multitude of workers employed at 

 once in labours to which it did not appear they should have 

 been called, at their coincidence, their zeal, and their 

 prudence. 



" But it was still more wonderful, that about half the 

 numerous population took no part in the proceedings, 

 remaining motionless, while the others fulfilled the func- 

 tions required. The wax-workers, in a state of absolute 



