B54 INSECTS THAT LIVE 
together the several particles of which 
its habitation is composed. 
The nests of humble-bees present dif- 
ferent appearances: here, we find these 
insects dwelling under a roof of moss; 
there, under a vault of wax. Their provi- 
sions are not collected to any extent, and 
are so exposed, that any may go and 
obtain refreshment when they like ; but 
what is singular, the cells which contain 
their honey, have not been fabricated 
expressly for this purpose; the webs 
which they spin, in the first state of their 
existence, serves for this new use, and 
the coarse wax they elaborate, is em- 
ployed in narrowing or lengthening these 
reservoirs, in constructing new cells for 
their young, and in forming an envelope 
which preserves the nest from humidity. 
Let us now approach that hillock of 
straw, which we olserve in the midst of 
the forest; under that inclined roof, a 
numerous republic finds an asylum against 
the injuries of the air. By a well-regu- 
lated police, the gates are closed during 
