126 IXSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



elegant "hexagonal cells of our hives, but in wax bags, not 

 quite so large as an egg. These bags or bladders are 

 hung round the sides of the hive, and appear about half 

 full ; the quantity being probably just as great as the 

 strength of the wax will bear without tearing. Those 

 near the bottom, being better supported, are more filled 

 than the upper ones. In the centre of the lower part 

 of the hive we observed an irregularly-shaped mass of 

 comb, furnished with cells like those of our bees, all con- 

 taining young ones in such an advanced state, that, when 

 we broke the comb, and let them out, they flew merrily 

 away." 



Clavigero, in his ' History of Mexico,' evidently de- 

 scribing the same species of bee, says it abounds in Yucatan, 

 and makes the honey of Estabentum, the finest in the 

 world, and which is taken every two months. He men- 

 tioned another species of bee, smaller in size, and also 

 without a sting, which forms its nest of the shape of a 

 sugarloaf, and as large or larger. These are suspended 

 from trees, particularly from the oak, and are much more 

 populous than our common hives. 



Wild honey-bees of some species appear also to abound 

 in Africa. Mr. Park, in his second volume of travels, tells 

 us that some of his associates imprudent!}^ attempted to rob 

 a numerous hive of its honey, when the exasperated bees, 

 rushing out to defend their property, attacked their 

 assailants with great fury, and quickly compelled the whole 

 company to fly. 



At the Cape of Good Hope the bees themselves must 

 be less formidable, or more easily managed, as their hives 

 are sought for with avidity. Nature has there provided 

 man with a singular and very eflicient assistant in a bird, 

 most appropriately named the honey-guide (^Indicator major ^ 

 ViEiLLOT ; Cucidus indicator, Latham). The honey-guide, 

 it is said, so far from being alarmed at the presence of 

 man, appears anxious to court his acquaintance, and flits 

 from tree to tree with an expressive note of invitation, the 

 meaning of which is well known both to the colonists and 

 the Hottentots. A person thus invited by the honey-guide 



