LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 145 



The working bees are divided into two 

 classes, called wax-workers and nurse bees. It 

 is the particular duty of the wax-workers to 

 supply the wax of which the combs are made, 

 which is obtained, not from flowers, as has been 

 supposed, but from their own bodies, as I will 

 presently explain to you. The nurse bees take 

 care of the young, and assist in the building of 

 the cells. Both classes collect honey. 



When a swarm of bees is placed in an empty 

 hive, they are immediately in want of cells in 

 which to store their honey and rear their young; 

 and the first thing to be done is to provide the 

 wax of which these cells are to be made. This 

 is done by the wax- workers, who, after swal- 

 lowing as much honey as their stomachs will 

 contain, are obliged to remain perfectly quiet 

 for many hours ; and for this purpose they hang 

 in clusters from the top of the hive, each cling- 

 ing to the legs of the other, while the wax forms 

 in scales under the rings of their bodies. But I 

 can give you a better idea of the whole opera- 

 tion by describing some of the experiments of 

 M. Huber, who devoted much time to the ex- 



13* 



