1817.] On Bees’ Celis and Combs. 311 
Bees’ Cells and Combs. 
Bees’ cells, as is generally known, are composed of regular 
hexagons, terminated at bottom by three rhembuses, so disposed 
that the bottom of one cell comes exactly on the wall or division 
of the opposite ; thus giving them the greatest possible strength: the 
cells lying horizontal, one above the other ; thus forming a vertical 
comb from the top of the hive to the bottom. Dr. Barclay having 
been able to divide the partitions of the cells into two leaves or 
separate cells, supposed them to be separately composed and stuck 
together. ! have been for some length of time in the habit of 
keeping bees, to which I have paid great attention; and, in the 
first place, consider it very much against the general economy of 
the bee to suppose they should bestow the time and pains in making 
separate cells, i.e. double partitions, when single ones would 
suffice, particularly as bees appear to enjoy every thing in common. 
If a piece of virgin comb is examined, by cutting it asunder at 
right angles to the cell, it will appear a homogeneous mass regularly 
shaped, but without any appearance of division, Jt will also 
appear, on examining the comb, that some of the cells are much 
higher than the others ; that is, one high cell and one low one, 
frequently joining. Now if the cells were double, we should see 
the part of the high one that is above the other thinner than the 
bottom ; but this is not the case: thus tending to prove that they 
are only single. But if we take a piece of old comb that has had 
wood in it, and cut itin the same way, there is every appearance of 
its being double. In fact, we may frequently divide it into several 
leaves; but we must not consider this the original structure 5 for 
the young bee or maggot, in going through its chrysalis state, 
spins itself a fine web, which lines the entire inside of the cell. 
Afier the young one leaves it, the old ones, or workers, instead of 
clearing it out, stick it up tight to the sides; thus giving it the ap- 
pearance of double partitions, but which in fact is nothing more 
than a number of skins sticking to the original structure. 
Wasps’ Combs. 
The cells and combs of wasps are vice versd of bees’; that is, 
vertical cells and horizontal combs, with the mouth or opening of 
the cell upwards. The combs’ stratum ‘or superstratum supported 
on pillars, with just sufficient space between for the wasps to move. 
The composition is decaying wood gathered from palings, generally 
oak, which the animal grates off with a strong pair of nippers, with 
which it is furnished, and then sticks together with an animal glue 
into a papyrus-like substance, The wood does not undergo any 
alteration ; for with a common eye-glass the pieces may be seen 
in their natural state, evidently showing that the cells are single ; 
for the pieces may be distinguished on both sides of the same cell. 
Now in the papyrus-like substance that envelopes the whole nest, it 
is evidently composed of several layers. 
