188 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Passing over the humble-bees, which are not skilful 

 architects, we come to the workers in wax, such as the 

 stingless bees of the tropics (Trigona and Melipona), and 

 the hive-bee, our only domestic insect. The cells of Meli- 

 pona are hexagonal, but the honey-cells are irregular and 

 larger in size. The cells of an Australian Trigona are 

 arranged in combs similar to those of the common wasp. 

 Hence these bees are a connecting link between the solitary 

 bees and the honey-bee, whose elaborate style of architec 

 ture has been so often recounted.* 



* See, for an account of the cells of the honey-bee, the latest and 

 best work on the honey-bee, "Cheshire's Bees and Beekeeping" 

 (2 vols., with numerous excellent illustrations; London, L. Upcott 

 Gill, 1886-7); for essays on the cells of bees, and the mathematical 

 principles and theory of construction, the writings of Maraldi, 

 Reaumur, Huber, J. Wyman (Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sciences, 

 vii., 1866), S. Ilaughton, G. R. Waterhouse, F. Smith, Tegetmeier, 

 Darwin, and the author's " Guide to the Study of Insects." 



Argynnis aphrodite; under side shown on right. 



