144 Insect Architecture. 



tions, which was opposite to three others, was divided into 

 three parts, while the excavations of the first row on the 

 other face, applied against this one, were composed of only 

 two. 



" In consequence of the manner in which the excavations 

 were opposed to each other, those of the second row, and all 

 subsequent, partially applied to three cavities, were composed 

 of three equal diamond-shaped lozenges. I may here remark, 

 that each part of the labour of bees appears the natural result 

 of what has preceded it : therefore, chance has no share in 

 these admirable combinations. 



" A foundation- wall rose above the slip like a minute 

 vertical partition, five or six lines long, two lines high, but 

 only half a line in thickness ; the .edge circular, and the 

 surface rough. Quitting the cluster among the combs, a 

 nurse-bee mounted the slip, turned around the block, and 

 visiting both sides, began to work actively in the middle. 

 It removed as much wax with its teeth as might equal the 

 diameter of a common cell ; and after kneading and moisten- 

 ing the particles, deposited them on the edge of the excava- 

 tion. This insect having laboured some seconds, retired, 

 and was soon replaced by another; a third continued the 

 work, raising the margin of the edges, now projecting from 

 the cavity, and with assistance of its teeth and feet fixing the 

 particles, so as to give these edges a straighter form. More 

 than twenty bees successively participated in the same work ; 

 and when the cavity was little above a line and a half in 

 height, though equalling a cell in width, a bee left the 

 swarm, and after encircling the block, commenced its opera- 

 tions on the opposite face, where yet untouched. But its 

 teeth acting only on one half of this side, the hollow which 

 it formed was opposite to only one of the slight prominences 

 bordering the first cavity. Nearly at the same time another 

 worker began on the right of the face that had been un- 

 touched, wherein both were occupied in forming cavities 

 which may be designed the second and third ; and they also 

 were replaced by substitutes. These two latter cavities were 

 separated only by the common margin, framed of particles of 



