Australian species of Trigona. 15B 



the other variety, they are encased in a sheet of wax to 

 economise the heat necessary for the maturity of the 

 young. 



If the hive is being robbed these bees eat the honey 

 greedily at first, then get much excited, dashing aimlessly 

 about in all directions ; they do not attack the operator 

 as the others do. In habits they are exceedingly in- 

 dustrious and tractable, but at times quarrel fiercely 

 among themselves. The entrance to their hive is guarded 

 or ornamented by a pipe of propolis about an inch in 

 length, having an exceedingly sticky outer edge ; it is by 

 this pipe alone that access to the hive is gained, and it 

 extends inside as far as the brood-nest usually, but 

 sometimes not quite so far. 



When the young have reached the second stage of 

 their existence the wax is almost wholly removed from 

 the cocoon, which assumes an oblong form ; this wax is 

 probably worked over again (I believe for honey and 

 pollen-pots), as the bees that form them may sometimes 

 be seen bringing a small piece of wax in their mandibles 

 from the passages among the brood-cells. The larva of 

 the queen spins its cocoon over the 7vhole of its body (as 

 do drones and workers). I have not observed that these 

 larvas receive any special treatment ; the cells are situated 

 low down in the nest, are much larger than the worker 

 cells, and the food to all appearance is similar in all 

 cases, the cells being filled, the eggs deposited and sealed 

 up in the same way as those which produce workers ; 

 the same may be said of drones. 



In forming brood-cells they build them with a funnel- 

 shaped mouth, which is either pointed up or outward, 

 according to the direction in which the nest is being 

 extended, and fill them with semi-fluid food, which is 

 prepared in the stomachs of the workers. The egg is 

 forced into the food by the queen, with one end slightly 

 protruding ; the funnel-shaped mouth is then imme- 

 diatel}^ closed by a worker-bee — never more than one — 

 kneading it in so that the cell may assume a globular 

 form. In doing this the insect works with the point of 

 its abdomen inserted in the opening, on which it works 

 as on a pivot, turning around and kneading the wax 

 with the head until the operation is performed ; if the 

 bee is removed before the completion of the work it is 

 immediately replaced by another ; they seem anxious to 

 close the cell directly the egg has been deposited. These 



