493 HABITATIO:^! OT INSECT*. 



Variations, as has boen already hinted, sometime* 

 take place in the position and even form of the combs. 

 OccasionaUy the bees construct cells of the common 

 shape upon the wood to which the combs are fixed, 

 vTithout pyramidal bottoms, and from them continue 

 their work as usual. These cells with a fiat bottom, 

 or rather with the wood for their bottom, are more ir- 

 regular than the common ones ; some of their orifices 

 are not angular, and their dimensions are not exact, but 

 all are more or less hexagonal. Once when disturbed, 

 Huber observed them to begin their combs on one of 

 the vertical sides of the hive instead of on the roof. 

 When particular circumstances caused it, as, for in- 

 stance, when glass was introduced, to which they do 

 r.ot like to fix their combs, he remarked that they con- 

 stantly varied their direction ; and by repeating the at- 

 tempt, he forced them to form their combs in the most 

 fantastic manner. Yet glass is an artificial substance, 

 against which instinct merely cannot have provided 

 them : there is nothing in hollow trees, their natural 

 habitation, resembling it. — When they change the di- 

 rection of their combs, they enlarge the cells of one side 

 to two or three times the diameter of those of the other, 

 which gives the requisite curve. 



To complete the detail of these interesting disco- 

 veries of the elder Huber, I must lay before you the 

 following additional observations of his son. 



The first base of the combs upon which the bees 

 work holds three or four ceils, sometimes more. — The 

 comb continues of the same width for three or four 

 inches, and then begins to widen for three quarters oi 

 itfe length. The bcei? engaged at the bottom lengthen 



