126 WAX. 



the receptacles were discovered where the wax is 

 lodged after its transudation from the body of the bee, 

 that a vast number of small scales, proved to be 

 wax, are to be seen at the bottom of the hive in which 

 bees have recently been lodged, and which have cer- 

 tainly fallen from them while hurriedly occupied in 

 fixing the foundation of their combs, and, that these 

 scales have been observed by many, ourselves among 

 the number, appearing under the rings of the abdomen, 

 and more than half extruded. And, finally, these dis- 

 coveries, which some, perhaps, might regard as little 

 more than presumptive evidence, have been followed 

 up by Huber with his usual success, and the formation 

 of wax from honey or sugar, the saccharine part of which 

 last-mentioned substance constitutes one principal in- 

 gredient of honey, established by such unequivocal ex- 

 periments as to force conviction on the most sceptical. 

 We have again to express our regret that our narrow 

 limits oblige us to give only a very brief abstract of these 

 most interesting and conclusive experiments, and to 

 refer the reader to the ampler details to be found inHu- 

 ber's work. He lodged a young swarm in a straw hive, 

 furnishing them with honey and water, and confining 

 them for five days ; at the end of that period the bees 

 had consumed the whole of their provisions, and had 

 constructed several combs of beautiful wax. These 

 combs were removed and more honey given them, 

 and the result was the same. This removal was made 

 five times successively, and on each occasion, being 

 supplied exclusively with honey, they produced new 

 combs ; thus putting it beyond dispute that this sub- 



