110 INSECT AECHITECTURE. 



others, was divided into three parts, while the excavations 

 of the first row on the other face, applied against this one, 

 were composed of only two. 



" In consequence of the manner in which the excava- 

 tions were opposed to each other, those of the second row, 

 and all subsequent, partially applied to three cavities, were 

 composed of three equal diamond-shaped lozenges. I may 

 here remark, that each part of the labour of bees appears 

 the natural result of what has preceded it; therefore, 

 chance has no share in these admirable combinations. 



" A foundation-wall rose above the slip like a minute 

 vertical partition, five or six lines long, two lines high, 

 but only half a line in thickness ; the edge circular, and 

 the surface rough. Quitting the cluster among the combs, 

 a nurse-bee mounted the slip, turned around the block, and 

 visiting both sides, began to work actively in the middle. 

 It removed as much wax with its teeth as might equal the 

 diameter of a common cell ; and after kneading and moisten- 

 ing the particles, deposited them on the edge of the excava- 

 tion. This insect having laboured some seconds, retired, 

 and was soon replaced by another ; a third continued the 

 work, raising the margin of the edges, now projecting from 

 the cavity, and with assistance of its teeth and feet fixing 

 the particles, so as to give these edges a straighter form. 

 More than twenty bees successively participated in the 

 same work; and when the cavity was little above a line 

 and a half in height, though equalling a cell in width, a 

 bee left the swarm, and after encircling the block, com- 

 menced its operations on the opposite face, where yet un- 

 touched. But its teeth acting only on one half of this side, 

 the hollow which it formed was opposite to only one of the 

 slight prominences bordering the first cavity. Nearly at 

 the same time another worker began on the right of the 

 face that had been untouched, wherein both were occupied 

 in forming cavities which may be designed the second and 

 third ; and they also were replaced by substitutes. These 

 two latter cavities were separated only by the common 

 margin, framed of particles of wax withdrawn from them ; 

 which margin corresponded with tlie centre of the cavity on 



