BEES. 65 



irregular fragments as may have been left in 

 the work. Of these fragments the bee forms 

 a ball about the size of a pin's head, comes 

 out of the cell, and carries this wax to ano- 

 ther part of the w^ork, where it is wanted ; 

 it no sooner leaves the cell than it is suc- 

 ceeded by another Bee, which performs the 

 same office ; and in this manner the work is 

 successively carried on till the cell is com- 

 pletely polished. 



Their mode of working, and the disposi- 

 tion of their labour, when put into an empty 

 hive, do much honour to the sagacity of 

 Bees. They immediately begin to lay the 

 foundations of their combs, which they exe- 

 cute with surprising quickness and alacrity. 

 Soon after they begin, to construct one comb, 

 they divide into two or three companies, each 

 of which in different parts of the hive is 

 occupied in the same operations. By this 

 division of labour, a great number of Bees 

 have an opportunity of being employed at 

 the same time, and consequently, the common 

 work is sooner finished. The combs are 

 generally arranged in a direction parallel to 

 each other. An interval or street between 

 G 3 



