802 



A HISTORY OP 



would be carried off for want of armed guar- 

 dians to protect it. 



From examining the bee singly, we now 

 corne to consider it in society, as an animal 

 not only subject to laws, but active, vigilant, 

 laborious, and disinterested. All its provi- 

 sions are laid up for the community ; and all 

 its arts in building a cell, designed for the 

 benefit of posterity. The substance with 

 which bees build their cells is wax ; which is 

 fashioned into convenient apartments for them- 

 selves and their young. When they begin to 

 work in their hives, they divide themselves 

 into four companies : one of which roves in 

 the fields in search of materials ; another em- 

 ploys itself in laying out the bottom and par- 

 titions of their cells ; a third is employed in 

 making the inside smooth from the corners 

 and angles; and the fourth company bring 

 food for the rest, or relieve those who return 

 with their respective burdens. But they are 

 not kept constant to one employment ; they 

 often change the tasks assigned them : those 

 that have been at work, being permitted to go 

 abroad ; and those that have been in the fields 

 already, take their places. They seem even 

 to have signs, by which they understand each 

 other ; for when any of them wants food, it 

 bends down its trunk to the bee from whom 

 it is expected, which then opens its honey-bag, 

 and lets some drops fall into the other's mouth, 

 which is at that time open to receive it. Their 

 diligence and labour is so great, that in a day's 

 time they are able to make cells, that lie upon 

 each other, numerous enough to contain three 

 thousand bees. 



If we examine their cells, they will be 

 found formed in the exactest proportion. It 

 was said by Pappus, an ancient geometrician, 

 that, of all other figures, hexagons were the 

 most convenient ; for when placed touching 

 each other, the most convenient room would 

 be given, and the smallest lost. The cells of 

 the bees are perfect hexagons : these, in every 

 honey-comb, are double, opening on either 

 side, and closed at the bottom. The bottoms 

 are composed of little triangular panes, which, 

 when united together, terminate in a point, 

 and lie exactly upon the extremities of other 

 panes of the same shape, in opposite cells. 

 These lodgings have spaces, like streets, be- 

 tween them, large enough to give the bees a 

 free passage in aud out ; and yet narrow 



enough to preserve the necessary heat. The 

 mouth of every cell is defended by a border, 

 which makes the door a little less than the 

 inside of the cell, which serves to strengthen 

 the whole. These cells serve for different 

 purposes: for laying up their young; for their 

 wax, which in winter becomes a part of their 

 food ; and for their honey, which makes their 

 principal subsistence. 



It is well known that the habitation of bees 

 ought to be very close ; and what their hives 

 want, from the negligence or unskilfulness of 

 man, these animals supply by their own indus- 

 try : so that it is their principal care, when 

 first hived, to stop up all the crannies. For 

 this purpose they make use of a resinous gum, 

 which is more tenacious than wax, and dif- 

 fers greatly from it. This the ancients called 

 propolis: it will grow considerably hard in 

 June; though it will in some measure soften 

 by heat ; and is often found different in con- 

 sistence, colour, and smell. It has generally 

 an agreeable aromatic odour when it is warm- 

 ed ; and by some it is considered as a most 

 grateful perfume. When the bees begin to 

 work with it, it is soft, but it acquires a firmer 

 consistence every day; till at length it assumes 

 a brown colour, and becomes much harder 

 than wax. The bees carry it on their hinder 

 legs ; and some think it is met with on the 

 birch, the willow, and poplar. However it is 

 procured, it is certain that they plaster the in- 

 side of their hives with this composition. 



If examined through a glass hive, from the 

 hurry the whole swarm is in, the whole ap- 

 pears at first like anarchy and confusion : but 

 the spectator soon finds every animal diligent- 

 ly employed, and following one pursuit, with 

 a settled purpose. Their teeth are the instru- 

 ments by which they model and fashion their 

 various buildings, and give them such symme- 

 try and perfection. They begin at the top of 

 the hive ; and several of them vvprk at a time, 

 at the cells which have two faces. If they 

 are stinted with regard to time, they give the 

 new cells but half the depth which they ought 

 to have ; leaving them imperfect, till they 

 have sketched out the number of cells neces- 

 sary for the present occasion. The construc- 

 tion of their combs costs them a great deal of 

 labour: they are made by insensible additions; 

 and not cast at once in a mould, as some are 

 apt to imagine. There seems no end of their 



