LAYING AND HATCHING OF EGGS. 57 



side being as exactly opposite to those on the other 

 as the relative position of the cells will admit. The 

 effect of this is to produce a concentration and econ- 

 omy of heat for developing the various changes of 

 the brood. 



" The eggs of bees are of a lengthened oval shape, 

 with a slight curvature, and of a bluish white color ; 

 are composed of a thin membrane filled with a whitish 

 liquor, and being besmeared at the time of laying 

 with a glutinous substance, they adhere to the basis 

 of the cell and remain unchanged in figure or situa- 

 tion for four days ; then they are hatched, the bottom 

 of each cell presenting to view a small white worm 

 or maggot, with several ventral rings. On its grow- 

 ing so as to touch the opposite angle of the cell, it 

 coils itself up in the shape of a semicircle ; to use 

 the language of Swarmnerdam, ' it coils itself up like 

 a dog when he is going to sleep ;' and floats in a 

 whitish transparent fluid which is deposited in the 

 cells by the nursing bees, and by which it is probably 

 nourished ; it becomes gradually enlarged in its 

 dimensions till the two extremities touch one another 

 and form a ring. In this state it obtains indifferently 

 the name of worm, larva, maggot, or grub, and is 

 fed with farina or bee-bread. The slightest move- 

 ment on the part of the nursing bees suffices to attract 

 it to its food, to receive the welcome morsels of which 

 it eagerly opens its two lateral pincers, and a most 

 liberal supply is afforded to it, though by no means 

 trenching on the bounds of prodigality. 



