METAMORPHOSES. 



observed several, 7c, 7t, of unusual and irregular forms, While 

 some such cells have six unequal sides, others have only four or 

 five. It seems also that in the case of certain cells intended only 

 for the reception of honey, the bee is not at all as scrupulous in 

 the observance of architectural regularity as in the case of brood 

 cells. 



110. The drone nymph undergoes its final metamorphosis and 

 becomes a perfect insect, from the twenty- fifth to the twenty- 

 seventh day from that on which the egg is laid, according to the 

 temperature of the hive. It is therefore six or seven days later 

 in arriving at maturity than the worker. 



111. The changes to which the young of the royal family are 

 subject before arriving at maturity, are different from those above 

 stated. It has been already explained that the royal cells are 

 vertical instead of being horizontal, are egg-shaped instead of 

 being hexagonal, and in fine are much more capacious than those 



Fig. 48. 



of the drones or workers. One of these cells is shown at r s in 

 fig. 48, a part, u u, being removed to show the royal nymph 

 within it. It will be observed that a much larger space is given 

 to the royal nymph than is allowed either to that of the worker 

 or the drone, the bodies of which nearly fill their respective cells. 

 The royal nymph is always placed, as shown in the figure, with 

 her head downwards. 



The progressive formation of a royal cell is shown in fig. 49. 

 It is unfinished, as at a, when the egg is deposited ; and is gradually 

 enlarged, c, as the grub increases in size ; and is sealed up, b, when 

 it is transformed into a nymph. 



53 



