44 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



ot tlie bottoms, which at first is unequal, of 

 equal height; thus all the margins of the cells 

 offer an iiuiformly level surface from their first 

 origin, and until they have acquired their pro- 

 per"length. The sides are heightened in an or- 

 der analagous to that which the insects follow 

 in furnishing the bottoms of the cells; and the 

 length of these tubes is so perfectly propor- 

 tioned that there is no observable inequality be- 

 tween them. It is to be remarked, that though 

 the general form of the cells is hexagonal, that 

 of those first begun is, 'pentagonal, the side next 

 the top of the hive, and by which the comb is 

 attached, being much broader than the rest; 

 whence the comb is more strongly united to 

 the hive than if these cells were of the ordinary 

 shape. It of course follows that the base gf these 

 cells, instead of being formed, like those of the 

 hexagonal cells, of three rhomboids, consists of 

 one i-homboid and two trapeziums. 



The form of a new comb is lenticular, its 

 thickness always diminishing towards the edges. 

 This gradation is constantly observable whilst 

 it keeps enlarging in circumference ; but as 

 soon as the bees get sufficient space to length- 

 en it, it begins to lose this form, and to assume 

 parallel surfaces; it has then received the shape 

 Which it will always preserve. 



The bees appear to give the proper forms to 

 the bottoms of the cells by means of their an- 

 tennae, which extraordinary organs they seem 

 to employ as directors by which their other in- 

 struments are instructed to execute a very com- 

 plex work. They do not remove a single par- 

 ticle of the wax until the antenua3 have explored 

 the surface that is to be sculptured. By the use 

 of these organs, which are so flexible and so 

 readily applied to all parts, however delicate, 

 that they can perform the functions of com- 

 passes in measuring very minute objects, they 

 can work in the darjc, and raise those wonderful 

 combs the first production of insects. 



Every part of the work appears a natural 

 consequence of that Avhich precedes it, so that 

 chance has no share in the- admirable results 

 witnessed. The bees cannot depart from their 

 prescribed route, except in consequence of par- 

 ticular circumstances which alter the basis of 

 their labor. The original mass of wax is never 

 augmented but by an uniform quantity; and 

 what is most astonishing, this augmentation is 

 made by the wax-makers, who are the deposi- 

 taries of the primary matter, and possess not 

 the art of sculpturing the cells. 



The bees never begin two masses for combs 

 at the same time; but scarcely are some rows 

 of cells constructed in the first, when two other 

 masses, one on each side of it, are established 

 at equal distances from it and parallel to it, and 

 then again two more exterior to these. The 

 combs are always enlarged and lengthened in a 

 progression proportioned to the priority of their 

 origin; the middle comb being constantly ad- 

 vanced beyond the two adjoining ones by some 

 rows of cells, and the.y beyond Ihose that are 

 exterior to them. Was it permitted to these 

 insects to lay the foundation of all their combs 

 at the same time, they could not be placed con- 

 veniently or parallel, to each other. So with 



respect to the cells, the first cavity determines 

 the place of all that succeed it. 



A large number of bees work at the same 

 time on the same comb; but they are not moved 

 to it by a simultaneous but by a successive im- 

 pulse. A single bee begins every partial opera- 

 tion, and many others in succession add their 

 efforts to hers, each appearing to act individu- 

 ally in a direction impressed either by the work- 

 ers who have preceded it, or by the condition 

 in which it finds the work. The whole popula- 

 tion of wax-makers is in a state of the most 

 complete inaction till one bee goes forth to lay 

 the foundations of the first comb. Immediately 

 others second her intentions, adding to the 

 height and length of the mass; and when they 

 cease to act, a bee, if the term may b-e used, of 

 another profession, one of the nurse-bees, goes 

 to form the draft of the first cell, in which she 

 is succeeded by others.* 



The diameters of the cells intended for the lar- 

 vae of workers is always 23-5 lines, that of those 

 meant for the larvaa of the males or drones 3^. 

 The male cells are generally in the middle of 

 the combs, or in their sides; rarely in their up- 

 per part. Thej'- are never insulated, but form 

 a corresponding group on both sides of the 

 comb. When the bees form male cells below 

 those of neuters, they construct many rows of 

 intermediate ones, the diameter of which aug- 

 ments progressively till it attains that of a male 

 cell; and they observe the same method when 

 they revert from male cells to those of neuters. 

 It appears to be the oviposition of the queen 

 which decides the land of cells that are to be 

 made; while she lays the eggs of workers, no 

 male cells are constructed; but when she is 

 about to lay the eggs of males, the neuters ap- 

 pear to know it, and act accordingly. When 

 there is a very large harvest of honey, the bees 

 increase the diameter and even the length of 

 their cells. At this time manj- irregular combs 

 may be seen with cells of twelve, fifteen, and even 

 eighteen lines in length. Sometimes, also, they 

 have occasion to shorten the cells. When they 

 wish to lengthen an old comb, the tubes of 

 which have acquired their full dimensions, they 

 gradually diminish the thickness of its edges, 

 gnawing down the sides of the cells till it as- 

 sumes the lenticular form; they then -engraft a 

 mass of wax round it, and so proceed Avith new 

 cells. 



Variations, as has been already hinted, some- 

 times take place in the position and even form 

 of the combs. Occasionally bees construct cells 

 of the common shape upon the Avood to Avhich 

 the combs are fixed, without pyramidal bot- 



*Somo late physiologists and entomologists liave contended 

 with Buflfon that there is in fact nothing wonderful in the 

 hexaeonal form of the cells of bees, which are at first really 

 cylindrical (thus corresponding with the form of their bo- 

 dies), hut forced to assume the six-sided form by the pres- 

 sure on their sides of the multitude of bees engaged upon 

 them; but surely if these authors had read Huber's work 

 with attention they must have perceived that the fact stated 

 by him above, that however large the number of bees at 

 work en a comb, they do not work simultaneously, but suc- 

 cessively, "each appearing to act individually in a direc- 

 tion impressed either by the workers who have preceded it, 

 orbylheconditiouin which it finds tl:o work," is utterly 

 at variance with their theory, as is indeed thewhole of llu- 

 ber's lucid and distinct relation. 



