THE HONE V -BEE. 103 



to lay the foundations of two others, one on eacli side 

 of that already founded, continuing their operations in 

 this manner, till they have taken in the whole range 

 of their building ground ; and, with such diligence do 

 they ply their labours, that in one day, during the 

 height of the honey-season, they will construct no 

 fewer than 4000 cells. A comb measures in thick- 

 ness, generally speaking, one inch, and the interval 

 between them is about one third of an inch, affording 

 a passage for two bees, back to back, without ob- 

 struction or inconvenience. These dimensions, how- 

 ever, are varied according to circumstances. Towards 

 the top of the hive, (PL VI. fig, 1, a> a,) where the 

 honey magazines are situated, the cells are deepened, 

 consequently the thickness of the comb is increased, 

 and the road-way contracted- This is no inconve- 

 nience to the bees, for, after the honey-cells are sealed, 

 they have seldom occasion to visit that quarter of the 

 hive, and can, therefore, put up with less room. 



When the breeding season returns, however, these 

 cells are all reduced to their original size, if emptied 

 of their contents, and thus fitted for the reception 

 of brood. The combs, attached as they are to the 

 roof of the hive, descend vertically. Unlike human 

 builders, they begin their work at the top or ceiling, 

 and suspend their structures from above. This is 

 their usual mode of proceeding, but circumstances 

 induce them sometimes to vary it. The following 

 is an instance from our personal observation : We 

 put a swarm into our experimental hive, which is so 

 thin, as to admit of one comb only being constructed. 



