138 Insect Architecture. 



and put them near the materials accumulated by its com- 

 panions, but not in a straight line. Another bee, apparently 

 sensible of the defect, removed the misplaced wax before our 

 eyes, and carrying it to the former heap, deposited it there, 

 exactly in the order and direction pointed out. 



" From all these operations was produced a block of a 

 rugged surface, hanging down from the arch, without any 

 perceptible angle, or any traces of cells. It was a simple 

 wall, or ridge, running in a straight line, and without the 

 least inflection, two-thirds of an inch in length, above two- 

 thirds of a cell, or two lines, high, and declining towards the 

 extremities. We have seen other foundation walls from an 

 inch to an inch and a half long, the form being always the 

 same ; but none ever of greater height, 



" The vacuity in the centre of the cluster had permitted 

 us to discover the first manoeuvres of the bees, and the art 

 with which they laid the foundations of their edifices. How- 

 ever, it was filled up too soon for our satisfaction ; for workers 

 collecting on both faces of the wall obstructed our view of 

 their further operations."* 



* Huber on Bees, p. 358. 



