102 ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 



On their return, those bees which have been occu- 

 pied in collecting honey, cluster closely together at 

 the top of the hive, and, suspended from each other 

 by their hooked claws, form a variety of fantastical 

 and often graceful figures, festoons, curtains, ladders, 

 &c., crossing each other in all directions, (PL V.), 

 and seem sunk in a profound inactivity, which con- 

 tinues about twenty-four hours. The inactivity, how- 

 ever, is only apparent. The time which they pass 

 in this seeming repose is doubtless necessary for the 

 elaboration of the honey, and the transfusion of the 

 saccharine part in the form of wax. But in the 

 centre of the mass, one worker has left its fellows, 

 and laid the foundation of the future structure ; it is 

 succeeded by several others, each of whom, singly 

 and separately, contributes its quantum of material 

 and skill to the rising edifice, while succeeding bands 

 of nurse-bees busy themselves in finishing and polish- 

 ing the work, which the wax-workers have only 

 rough hewn. For it is to be observed, that in the 

 construction of the combs, the two classes of wax- 

 workers and nurse-bees have their separate and dis- 

 tinct provinces. That of the former is to supply the 

 rough materials, and attach them coarsely together ; 

 and that of the latter to finish and perfect the edifice. 

 And while these last are occupied in this more re- 

 fined operation of finishing and polishing,, the former, 

 like industrious labourers, are continually bringing 

 forward additional loads of materials. One comb is 

 scarcely begun, or contains not more than two or 

 three rows of cells, when the busy architects proceed 



