411 



\ri:it. 



edge*, thus giving addition*! strength to them. It has bom asserted 

 that thin extra thicknoM i* added upon the completion of the cells ; 

 but as we have never olworved a cell, even though in a state <( pro- 

 gress, without it, we think the more probable conjecture is, that the 

 bee*, in working the side* of the cells, desist u|>on arriving near the 

 ton, and thus leave that part thick, an it in found to be. 



The ordinary cell* of a comb are of two sue* ; thorn designed for 

 the male larva being rather larger than those of the ordinary sue in 

 whieti the neuter larva; are reared. The width of the former cell* in 

 about H lines, and that of the latter 2J. A comb i always commenced 

 with the small-used cells. Hence, when the larger cells are con- 

 structed, instead of being opposed to three others they encroach upon 

 a fourth, and their bases are consequently composed of four plates 

 instead of three : at first a minute lozenge-shaped piece is visible at 

 the top of the basal part (jig. 16, o) ; this gradually increases in size 

 as the one on the opposite side decreases (Jig. 16, 6). 



When the full size of the cell is attained, the top and bottom pieces 

 (.*<;. 10, t, <) are equal; but as soon as asiirlieient number of the larger 

 cells is formed, the lower lonoge gradually decrease*, while the upper 

 one (fg. 1 6, e, t) increases in size until there are but throe- plates again 

 visible (Jig. 16, rf, rf). 



4 e rf d 



\f. 16. 



It is almost always found that the excavations for cells, formed by 

 different insects, in whatever situations they may be, are exactly pro- 

 portioned to their size. Hence it is extremely difficult to account 

 for the enlargement of the cells of the bees, as just described. We 

 will however venture an opinion, in hopes of calling attention to the 

 subject. 



In the former part of this account it has been stated that no sooner 

 is a portion of the comb finished than the queen deposits eggs in the 

 various cells, and that the cells first formed are always those of the 

 smaller size, which are excavated by what are termed the sculpturer- 

 bees, or nurses, which are less than the wax-workers. 



We imagine that when the eggs hatch, the small been, or nurses, 

 are more particularly engaged in attending upon the young ; and that 

 the large-sized workers then commence the excavation of the cells 

 themselves, and thus make cells of a larger diameter than those made 

 by the nurses. 



Huber states that the description of bees called wax-workers have 

 not the power of sculpturing the cells ; but at the same time he owns 

 that he was unable to follow the proceedings in the construction <>f a 

 comb for any considerable time after the commencement. During the 

 time of his observations, however, he invariably found that the smaller 

 bees were the sculpture. 



The interior of a hive consists of a number of combs arranged per- 

 pendicularly ; these are fixed to the roof of the hive, and are parallel 

 to each other, the space between them being about half an inch. 

 When the first comb has advanced in size, so as to consist of two or 

 three rows of cells, two other combs are commenced, one on each side 

 of it, the work proceeding as in the first ; these again are followed in 

 their turn by two others. As the comb advances in size it assumes a 

 form nearly circular, and is still joined to the roof of the hive only ; 

 the work proceeds by adding wax to the margin of the comb exactly 

 at the junction of the opposing cells, and this is no sooner deposited 

 than it is cut away and worked into cells. These cells are not equally 

 deep throughout the comb, but their depth gradually decreases as they 

 approach the margin : a comb in its progress has the form of a double 

 convex lens. 



The form of the comb, as above described, is that of a new one ; 



but in the honey-storing season the sides of the comb are joined to 



those of the hive, to give strength to hold thu additional weight ; the 



cells are also lengthened, so that the surface of the comb then becomes 



The cells are not quite horizontal, the orifice being generally 



a little higher than the base, most commonly four or five degrees, but 



rably more. When a comb is Hret completed, it is 



of a dull white colour and of a weak substance ; it is however soon 



strengthened by adding propolis to the margin of the cells, and lining 



their interior with threads of the same material. 



The cells of a comb are used for the purposes of storing up honey 

 for the winter, and in them the larva: are reared. Pollen, or bee-bread, 

 is also stored up hi some of the cells. Many larva: may be reared in 

 the same cell, and M each spins a cocoon or web on its sides whieli in 

 never cleared out, it thus becomes at last too contracted to contain 

 larva; ; it is then used for one or both of the other purposes above 

 mentioned. When a hive is well stored with combo having empty 

 cells, the workers disgorge the honey into these receptacles ; but in 

 case cells are wanted they retain the honey, and wax is secreted for 

 the purpose -of building more comb*. 



Honey is never consumed but in cases of the greatest necessity ; but 

 M soon as a cell is filled it is sealed up with a waxen covering. 



During the progress of a com I > in building, the slightest interruption 

 is likely to alter iU form; and as the space between each i- :,!.,>* 

 \actlythe same, it frequently happens that the whole ..f tiie 

 combs are affected by any accident happening to one. /".'</. 17 illus- 

 trates an instance of this sort, which we have seen 



Fig. 17. 



rig. u. 



but it also frequently happens that an interruption in one como is 

 corrected in those that follow. A curious instance of this nature we 

 have also observed (fig. 18). 



In both these instances the form of the comb was affected by a 

 stick being placed across the middle of the hive, to enable the owner 

 (as we believe) to remove the hive with less danger of the combs giving 

 way. 



The latter case is so ingenious that at first it appears more like an 

 operation of reason than instinct : it is nevertheless to be accounted 

 for upon the instinctive principles with which these animals work. 

 The course of the first comb being altered, the two adjoining ones 

 would naturally follow it.i line ; but if those next beyond them on each 

 side were in a state of forwardness, the workers would be obliged to 

 discontinue the two former, as shown in the figure, to avoid coining 

 in contact with the two latter ; for it appears to be a law in the con- 

 struction of new combs that a certain space should be always left at 

 the margins as well as between them. 



In addition to the construction of the comb, the bees when in 

 danger of attacks from their enemies barricade themselves. Son 

 the entrance of the hive is nearly blocked up with wax and pi 

 and at others a wall of that substance is constructed just behind that 

 part; this wall is perforated with holes only just large enough to 

 admit of the egress and ingress of the bees themselves. The fortifica- 

 tions are occasionally much more ingenious and complicated. Weak 

 hives are sometimes exposed to the attacks of strange bees, aud in 

 such cases fortifications would be constructed ; but it is more particu- 

 larly to prevent the ravages of the Achrrontia atropot that this care is 

 taken. As this moth only makes its appearance in the autumn, these 

 fortifications are removed in the spring, a time when they would be 

 of the greatest inconvenience, as the hive is then extremely populous. 

 Huber states that "the entrances formed in 1804 were destroyed in 

 the spring of 1805. The Sphinx (Acherontia alropvi) did not appear 

 that year ; but it returned in great numbers in the autumn of 1807. 

 By speedily barricading themselves, the bees prevented their threat- 

 ened ravages ; but before the departure of swarms in May, 1808, they 

 demolished the fortifications, whose narrow passage prohibited free 

 egress to the multitude." 



The principal authors who have written upon the habits of bees are 

 as follows: Aristotle, J/ittor// of Animal*, book v. ; I'liny. .\ 



./.book xi. ; Swammerdam ; a translation into English, from 

 the Dutch and Latin original edition of his work, has been made by 

 Tli"in,is Kloyil, entitle,!, Tin Honk "f \nture, ortke J/ittory </ /. 

 Heaumur, iu the fifth volume of his Mi' maim pour itrvir A V II 

 da Intectei, 1784-42; Schirach, Hittni- <le la Rn. 



AbeilUt, 1771 ; Hiem, Contemplation tie In Nature ; Bonnet, torn, v., 

 4to ed., and torn, x., 8vo. ; John Hunter, PftOoiopMcat T,untactiont for 

 1792; Thorley, Female Monarch;/ : briny an /</<>/ <'" /// .\ 

 Order, and Government of Beet ; Wililnmn, A C'umjilete (iniilc fur the 

 Management of Beet, 1819 ; Huber, Konrettet Observation! .- 

 AbeilUt: a translation into Knglish of this work was published in thu 

 year 1821, entitled, Xew Observation! on Ihr \ninfiil lli.-i 

 "Beet; Kdwanl licvan, M.D., The JIoneg-Bee, itt Xiiluml II 

 l'li;i*i<ili,iiii, and Management, 1827; Kirby and Spence, /fn,.; 



.</; T. Rymer Jones, Natural /fittvri/ f Animalt, vol. ii. ; 

 al 



I'.KK KATKIl. the vernacular name for a species of bird bel 

 to the genus Meropt, Linn., one of the family Murvpidtr, and , 

 Syndactylous Tribe, which have the external toe nearly as long as 

 the middle one, and both joined together up to the penult 

 artiouhUoD. 



The birds of this genus take their prey, consisting of wasps, bee*, 

 Ac., like the swallows, while on the wing; and, as Cuvjor observes, 

 it is remarkable that they are not stung by them. The specie* 

 are numerous, and many are figured by Levaillant. Their nests are 

 formed in the banks of rivers, when; they dig deep holes; an<l their 

 geographical distribution is over the wanner regions of the old 





