THE HONEY-BEE. 39 



dered deeper and broader ; and when a pyramidal base is 

 finished, the bees build up walls from its edges, so as to 

 complete what may be called the prismatic part of the 

 cell. The cells intended for the drones are considerably 

 larger and more substantial than those for the workers ; 

 and being formed subsequently, they usually appear nearer 

 the bottom of the combs : last of all are built the royal 

 cells for the queens ; of these there are usually three or 

 four, sometimes ten or twelve, in a hive, attached com- 

 monly to the central part, but not unfrequently to the edge 

 of the comb. The form of the royal cells is an oblong 

 spheroid, tapering gradually downwards, and having the 

 exterior full of holes : the mouth of the cell, which is al- 

 ways at the bottom, remains open until the maggot is ready 

 for transformation, and it is then closed like the rest. 



When a queen has emerged, the cell in which she was 

 reared is destroyed, and its place supplied by a range of 

 common cells : the site of this range may always be traced 

 by that part of the comb being thicker than the rest, and 

 forming a kind of knot. The common breeding cells of 

 drones and workers are occasionally made the depositories 

 of honey ; but the cells are never sufficiently cleansed 

 to preserve the honey undeteriorated. The finest honey is 

 stored in new cells constructed for the purpose of receiving 

 it, their form precisely resembling that of the common 

 breeding cells : these honey-cells vary in size, being larger 

 or smaller according to the productiveness of the sources 

 from which the bees are collecting, and also according to 

 the season. The cells formed in July and August being 

 intended only for honey, are larger and deeper than those 

 formed earlier : the texture of their walls is thinner, and 

 thus they have more dip or inclination : this dip diminishes 

 the risk of the honey's running out, which, from the heat 

 of the weather at this season, and its consequent thinness, 



