HIVE -BEES. Ill 



the opposite surface. The foundation-wall itself was still 

 of insufficient dimensions to admit the full diameter, of a 

 cell: but while the excavations were deepened, wax- 

 workers, extracting their scales of wax, applied them in 

 enlarging its circumference ; so that it rose nearly two lines 

 further around the circular arch. The nurse-bees, which 

 appeared more especially charged with sculpturing the 

 cells, being then enabled to continue their outlines, pro- 

 longed the cavities, and heightened their margins on the 

 new addition of wax. 



" The arch, formed by the edge of each of these cavities, 

 was next divided as by two equal chords, in the line of 

 which the bees formed stages or projecting borders, or 

 margins meeting at an obtuse angle : the cavities now had 

 four margins, two lateral and perpendicular to the sup- 

 porting slip, and two oblique, which were shorter. 



" Meantime, it became more difficult to follow the ope- 

 rations of the bees, from their frequently interposing their 

 heads between the eye of the observer and the bottom of 

 the cell ; but the partition, whereon their teeth laboured 

 had become so transparent, as to expose what passed on the 

 other side. 



" The cavities, of which we speak, formed the bottom of 

 the first three cells ; and while the bees engaged were 

 advancing them to perfection, other workers commenced 

 sketching a second row of cells above the first, and partly 

 behind those in front — for, in general, their labour pro- 

 ceeds by combination. We cannot say, ' When bees have 

 finished this cell, they will begin new ones ;' but, ' while 

 particular workers advance a certain portion, we are certain 

 that others will carry on the adjacent cells.' Further, the 

 work begun on one face of the comb is already the com- 

 mencement of that which is to follow on the reverse. All 

 this depends on a reciprocal relation, or a mutual con- 

 nexion of the parts, rendering the whole subservient to 

 each other. It is undoubted, therefore, that slight irregu- 

 larities on the front will affect the form of the cells on the 

 back of the comb." * 



* Huber on Bees, p. 308. 



