3o6 INSECT S. 



into the other's mogth, which is opened to receive it. In a day*s time, 

 they make cells, upon each other, to contain three thoiifand bees. 



The cells are perfe6t hexagons : double, opening on either fide, and 

 clofed at the bottom. Thefe lodgings have fpaces, like ftreets, be- 

 tween them, large enough to give the bees free pafTage; yet narrow 

 enough to preferve the neceflary heat. The mouth of every cell is 

 ftrengthen*;d by a border, which makes the door a little lefs than the in- 

 fide of the cell. Thefe cells contain their young, their wax, or their ho- 

 ney. It is their principal care, when firft hived, to ftop up all the cran- 

 .nies, by a refinoas gum, more tenacious than wax, called Propolis. When 

 the bees begin to work withjt it is foft, but acquires a firmer confid- 

 ence every day j till at length it aljumes a brown colour, and becomes 

 much harder than wax. The bees carry it on their hinder legs j and fome 

 think it is met with on the birch, the willow, and poplar. 



By their teeth they model their various buildings ; they begin at the 

 top of the hive, and feveral at a time. Their combs coft them great la- 

 bour, and are made by infenfible additions. Every worm, before it is an 

 aurelia, hangs its old fkin around its cell : the fame cell is often tenanted 

 by three or four worms in a fummer ; and the next feafon, by three or 

 four more : thus being lined, fix or eight deep, it becomes atlaft too nar* 

 row for a new brood, and is converted into a ftore-houfe for honey. 



The meal of flowers, of which their wax is formed, is one of their moft 

 favourite repalls. On this they live during fummer ; and lay up a large 

 winter provifion of it : this is the bee-bread ; without which they ftarve. 

 Their wax is this meal digefted, and wrought into a pafte. In April and 

 May, the bees are bufy, from morning to evening, in gathering this 

 meal ; but when the weather becomes too hot in the midft of fummer, 

 they work only in the morning. 



The bee has a ftomach for wax, as well as honey ; in which the powder 

 is altered, digefted, and concofted into wax, then it is ejedted. A comb, 

 newly made, is white : it becomes yellow as it grows old, and almoft 

 black when kept long. Honey is extra£led from that part of the flower 

 called the nedarium. It paflTes into the firfl: fl:omach, or honey-bag, which 

 appears like an oblong bladder. 



How numerous foever is a fwarm, all owe their original to the queen- 

 bee : that in one fummer gives birth to twenty thoufand young: the 

 number of her eggs appearing at one time amounts to five tfioufand. 

 She may eaCly be difliinguifhed by her fize, and the fliape of her body. 

 She will be feen at times attended with a numerous retinue, marching 



from 



