BEE 



155 



BEE 



In the above figure the angles at the bases of the cells 

 are cut into the partitions of the opposing cells, and hence 

 it is clearly seen that, from the position of those cells, the per- 

 pendicular partitions of the oells on this side must be longer 

 than those of the other, and (hat the cells themselves must 

 have three quadrilateral plates for their bases. 



In carrying up the sides of the cell, the form is regulated 

 by the intersection of the surrounding circles, as represented 

 in fig. 16. But the circles described in Jig. 16, parts of 

 which are shown in most of the other figures, represent those 

 which are enclosed by the hexagons, whereas we believe 

 the natural circumference of each cell (supposing it to be 

 cylindrical) is that by which the hexagon is enclosed; 

 hence it will be necessary to imagine the circles partly in- 

 tersecting each other. 



Fig. 18. 



It has now been demonstrated that the cells of the first 

 tiers on each side are pentagonal ; that the bases of those on 

 one side are each composed of two plates, while those of the 

 other side are each composed of three plates ; and that, ac- 

 cording to the laws laid down, they could not have been 

 otherw Ue : now as this accords with all the accounts given 

 of the proceedings in the construction of the comb, it seems 

 to prove that the laws which we have laid down, as guiding 

 their formation, are correct. 



We have now followed the progress, of the work until the 

 commencement of the second tiers of cells : it is unnecessary 

 to describe the formation of these and the follow ing tiers. It 

 is shown, that, according to certain laws, the first tiers of 

 each side of the comb become pentagonal, and according to 

 the same laws it is clear that the second and following tiers 

 must become hexagonal ; for the two sides forming the lower 

 boundary of each cell of the first tier, also form the upper 

 boundaries (or partitions) of two cells of the second tiers. 

 As the upper part of the first tier is determined by the roof 

 of the hive (represented by the horizontal line in diagram 

 ])), so is the upper portion of the cells of the second tier 

 determined by the lower portion of those of the first tier ; 

 thus, the upper portion of each cell of the second tiers being 

 composed of two planes meeting at an angle, and the work 

 continuing, as in the progress of the first tier, four more 

 planes will be constructed to form the lower portion, and 

 complete the hexagon. It is thus that all the ordinary 

 cells of a comb are hexagonal, and WO believe it is clearly 

 shown that they could not be otherwise, according to the 

 mode of proceeding in their construction. Their form de- 

 pends entirely upon the commencement of the work, which 

 inly throws the cell? in such a position, that each 

 cell must be surrounded by six other*, and consequently 

 have six sides, each sidu being the common partition of two 

 cells ; and, so long a* the cells are of equal diameter, they 

 must each be opposed to part* of three other cull* on the op- 

 posite side of the comb, m such a way, that supposing the 

 external surface of the bottom of ouch cell wore hemi- 

 spherical (which would be the ease were the wax not removed 

 from the interstice*), eaoh hemisphere would touch threo 

 others : bat the wax being removed from the interstices and 

 reduced to an equal thickness at all parts, and the bases 

 of the sides of a cell not being all in the same plane the 

 bottom of each cell i* thus formed into three equal rhom- 

 boidal pieces in three different planes, the three angles at 

 their junction l>ein^ respectively the lowest parts, or the 

 farthest removed from the mouth of the cell. 



In working the cells, the wax is always found a little- 

 thicker on the edges, thus giving additional strength to 

 them. It has been asserted that this extra thickness is 

 added upon the completion of the cells ; but us we have 

 never observed a cell, even though in a state of progress, 



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

 the bees, in working the sides of the cells, desist upon arriv- 

 ing near the top, and thus leave that part thick, as it is 

 found to be. 



The ordinary cells of a comb are of two sizes ; those de- 

 signed for the male larvae being rather larger than those 

 of the ordinary size in which the neuter larva; are reared. 

 The width of the former cells is about 3^ lines, and that of 

 the latter 2|. A comb is always commenced with the 

 small-sized 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 minutu 

 lozenge-shaped piece is visible at the top of the basal part 

 (.fig. 1 7, a) ; this gradually increases in size as the one on 

 the opposite side decreases, Jig. 17, b. 



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

 bottom pieces (fig. I7,c,c) are equal ; but as soon as a suffi- 

 cient number of the larger cells is formed, the lower lozenge 

 gradually decreases while the upper one (fig. 1 7, e, e) in- 

 creases in size, until there are but three plates again 

 visible (Jig. 1 7, d, d). 



Fig- 17. 



It is almost always found that the excavations for cells, 

 formed by different insects, in whatever situations they may 

 be, are exactly proportioned to their size. Henee it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to account for the enlargement of the culls 

 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 exca- 

 vated 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 beos, 

 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 of a comb for any consi- 

 derable time after the commencement. During the time of 

 his observations, however, he invariably found that the 

 smaller bees were the sculpturers. 



The interior of a hive consists of a number of combs ar- 

 ranged perpendicularly; 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 ad- 

 vanced 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 fol- 

 lowed 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 do- 

 creases as they approach the margin : a comb in its pro- 

 gress 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 tne comb 

 are joined to those of the hive, to give strength to nold the 

 additional weight ; the cells are also lengthened, so that the 

 surface of the comb then becomes even. The cells are not 

 quite horizontal, the orifice being generally a little higher 

 than the base, most commonly four or five degrees, but 

 sometimes considerably more. When a comb is first com- 

 pleted, 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 lia.ng their interior with threads of 

 the same material. 



X2 



