B. IX.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 261 



tures. The honey dealers calls this substance commosis, 

 and they build up the entrance of their hive if it is too wide. 

 They first build cells for their own habitation, then those for 

 the kings and the drones. They always build cells for them- 

 selves, and royal cells when there are many young ; but they 

 only build cells for the drones when there is plenty of honey. 



4. They make the royal cells near their own. These are 

 small. Those for the drones are placed next. These are of 

 a smaller size than those of the bees. They commence the 

 formation of their combs from the top of the hives, and carry 

 them down until several reach the floor of the hive. The cells, 

 whether for the honey or the grubs, are constructed with two 

 mouths ; for there are two cells built on each base, like a double 

 cup, one on the inside, the other on the outside. The cells at 

 the beginning of the comb, near the hives, are joined toge- 

 ther for as much as two or three rows in a circle, and are 

 short, and contain no honey. The cells which are formed 

 with the greatest quantity of wax contain the most honey. __, 



5. They spread the substance called mitys at the en- \ 

 trance of their hives, near the opening. This material is 

 black, as if it w^as the purification of the wax, and of a 

 harsh smell. \ It is considered a remedy for contusions 

 and suppuration's? Next to this the pissocerus is smeared 

 over the floor of the hive. This substance is less useful 

 than the mitys in the healing art.\ Some persons say that 

 the drones build cells for themselves, dividing both the hive 

 and the wax with the bees ; but they make no honey, but both 

 themselves and their young are supported by that of the bees. 

 The drones generally remain in the hives ; and if they fly out 

 they rise in the air with a great noise, wheeling about as if 

 they were exercising ; and when they have done this they 

 return to the hive and feast themselves on the honey. 



6. The king bees never leave the hives, either for food or 

 an^ other purpose, except with the whole swarm ; and they 

 say that, if a swarm wanders to a distance, they will retrace 

 their steps and return until they find the king by his pecu- 

 liar scent. They say also that, when the king is unable to 

 fly, he is carried by the swarm ; and if he perishes, the whole 

 swarm dies with him. And if they continue for a time 

 to form cells, they place no honey in them, and then they 

 also perish. 



