Chap. 10.] BEES. 9 



their fore feet : bending beneath their load, they then return 

 to the hive, where there are three or four bees ready to receive 

 them and aid in discharging their burdens. For, within the 

 hive as well, they have their allotted duties to perform : some 

 are engaged in building, others in. smoothing, the combs, while 

 others again are occupied in passing on the materials, and 

 others in preparing food 24 from the provision which has been 

 brought ; that there may be no unequal division, either in their 

 labour, their food, or the distribution of their time, they do not 

 even feed separately. 



Commencing at the vaulted roof of the hive, they begin 

 the construction of their cells, and, just as we do in the manu- 

 facture of a web, they construct their cells from top to bottom, 

 taking care to leave two passages around each compartment, 

 for the entrance of some and the exit of others. The combs, 

 which are fastened to the hive in the upper part, and in a 

 slight degree also at the sides, adhere to each other, and are 

 thus suspended altogether. They do not touch the floor of the 

 hive, and are either angular or round, according to its shape ; 

 sometimes, in fact, they are both angular and round at once, 

 when two swarms are living in unison, but have dissimilar 

 modes of operation. They prop up the combs that are likely 

 to fall, by means of arched pillars, at intervals springing from 

 the floor, so as to leave them a passage for the purpose of 

 effecting repairs. The first three ranks of their cells are gene- 

 rally left empty when constructed, that there may be nothing 

 exposed to view which may invite theft ; and it is the last 

 ones, more especially, that are filled with honey : hence 

 it is that the combs are always taken out at the back of the 

 hive. 



The bees that are employed in carrying look out for a favour- 

 able breeze, and if a gale should happen to spring up, they 

 poise themselves in the air with little stones, by way of bal- 

 last ; some writers, indeed, say that they place them upon their 

 shoulders. When the wind is contrary, they fly close to the 

 ground, taking care, however, to keep clear of the brambles. 

 It is wonderful what strict watch is kept upon their work : all 

 instances of idleness are carefully remarked, the offenders are 



24 From the honey found in the corolla? of flowers. This, after heing 

 prepared in the first stomach of the hee, is deposited in the cell which is 

 formed for its reception. 



