128 Insect Architecture. 



Nothing could be more diversified than the operations 

 carried on. 



" The bees, apparently charged with applying the pro- 

 polis within the cells, were easily distinguished from the 

 multitude of workers, by the direction of their heads towards 

 the horizonal pane forming the roof of the hive, and on 

 reaching it, they deposited their burthen nearly in the 

 middle of intervals separating the combs : then they con- 

 veyed the propolis to the real place of its destination. 

 They suspended themselves by the claws of the hind legs 

 to points of support, afforded by the viscosity of the propolis 

 on the glass ; and, as it were, swinging themselves backwards 

 and forwards, brought the heap of this substance nearer to 

 the cells at each impulse. Here the bees employed their 

 fore feet, which remained free, to sweep what the teeth had 

 detached, and to unite the fragments scattered over the glass, 

 which recovered all its transparency when the whole propolis 

 was brought to the vicinity of the cells. 



" After some of the bees had smoothed down and cleaned 

 out the glazed cells, feeling the way with their antennas, 

 one desisted, and having approached a heap of propolis, 

 drew out a thread with its teeth. This being broken off, 

 it was taken in the claws of the fore feet, and the bee, re- 

 entering the cell, immediately placed it in the angle of two 

 portions that had been smoothed, in which operation the fore 

 feet and teeth were used alternately ; but probably proving 

 too clumsy, the thread was reduced and polished; and we 

 admired the accuracy with which it was adjusted when the 

 work was completed. The insect did not stop here : re- 

 turning to the cell, it prepared other parts of it to recive a 

 second thread, for which we did not doubt that the heap 

 would be resorted to* Contrary to our expectation, however, 

 it availed itself of the portion of the thread cut off on the 

 former occasion, arranged it in the appointed place, and gave 

 it all the solidity and finish of which it was susceptible. 

 Other bees completed the work which the first had begun : 

 and the sides of the cells were speedily secured with threads 

 of propolis, while some were also put on the orifices ; but we 



