204 FAMILIiE, (Jpis. **. e. 2.) 



mass, but not all in the same cavity : they are ob- 

 long, of a bluish white, a line and half in length, 

 and half a line in diameter. The larvae are similar 

 to those of the hive bee, but their sides are marked 

 by irregular transverse black spots. These larvse, 

 after they are hatched, separate from each other, 

 eating the paste which surrounds them. The bees 

 of the nest, it is probable, discover the places where 

 the layers of this material become too thin, or where 

 the larva is in danger of eating through it, and lay 

 upon such parts fresh paste, that it may be shelter- 

 ed from the air. The honey-pots may be intended 

 to supply honey for the occasional moistening of 

 the paste. The pupa in each cell is placed with its 

 head downwards, and makes its way out at the bot- 

 tom of its coccoon. When the larva has spun this, 

 the bees probably take the pains to clear it from 

 the paste that may remain upon it. 



" The nests seldom contain more than fifty or 

 sixty inhabitants, these are of three different sizes; 

 the females, of which there is more than one in a 

 nest, are the largest, and probably alone survive the 

 winter ; the males are of the middle size, as is also 

 one description of working bees, or neuters ; the 

 other neuters are the smallest, and not bigger than 

 the hive hee(i/). These two sorts of neuters, it is 

 most likely, are appropriated to different kinds of 

 work; the largest being the strongest, and the 

 others the most lively, active, and expert. Amongst 

 (y) They are often much smaller. K. 



the 



