142 Insect Architecture. 



ho contrived, in order to observe the operations of the bees 

 subsequent to their laying a foundation for the first cell ; 

 and we shall again quote from his own narrative : 



" It appeared to me," he says, " that the only method of 

 isolating the architects, and bringing them individually into 

 view, would be to induce them to change the direction of 

 their operations and work upwards. 



" I had a box made twelve inches square and nine deep, 

 with a moveablc glass lid. Combs, full of brood, honey, and 

 pollen, were next selected from one of my leaf-hives, as con- 

 taining what might interest the bees, and being cut into 

 pieces a foot long, and four inches deep, they were arranged 

 vertically at the bottom of the box, at the same intervals as 

 the insects themselves usually leave between them. A small 

 slip of wooden lath covered the upper edge of each. It was 

 not probable that the bees would attempt to found new combs 

 on the glass roof of the box, because its smoothness pre- 

 cluded the swarm from adhering to it ; therefore, if disposed 

 to build, they could do .so over the slips resting on the combs, 

 which left a vacuity five inches high above them. As we 

 had foreseen, the swarm with which this box was peopled 

 established itself among the combs below. We then observed 

 the nurse-bees displaying their natural activity. They dis- 

 persed themselves throughout the hive, to feed the young 

 grubs, to clear out their lodgment, and adapt it for their 

 convenience. Certainly, the combs, which were roughly cnt 

 to fit the bottom of the box, and in some parts damaged, 

 appeared to them shapeless and misplaced ; for they speedily 

 commenced their reparation. They beat down the old wax, 

 kneaded it between their teeth, and thus formed binding 

 materials to consolidate them. We were astonished beyond 

 expression by such a multitude of workers employed at once 

 in labours to which it did not appear they should have been 

 called, at their coincidence, their zeal, and their prudence. 



" But it was still more wonderful, that about half the 

 numerous population took no part in the proceedings, remain- 

 ing motionless, while the others fulfilled the functions 

 required. The wax-workers, in a state of absolute repose, 



