Hive-Bees. 145 



wax withdrawn from them ; which margin corresponded with 

 the centre of the cavity on the opposite surface. The 

 foundation-wall itself was still of insufficient dimensions to 

 admit the full diameter of a cell : but while the excavations 

 were deepened, wax-workers, extracting their scales of wax, 

 applied them in enlarging its circumference ; so that it rose 

 nearly two lines further around the circular arch. The 

 nurse-bees, which appeared more especially charged with 

 sculpturing the cells, being then enabled to continue their 

 outlines, prolonged the cavities, and heightened their margins 

 on the new addition of wax. 



" The arch, formed by the edge of each of these cavities, 

 was next divided as by two equal chords, in the line of which 

 the bees formed stages or projecting borders, or margins 

 meeting at an obtuse angle : the cavities now had four 

 margins, two lateral and perpendicular to the supporting slip, 

 and two oblique, which were shorter. 



" Meantime, it became more difficult to follow the opera- 

 tions of the bees, from their frequently interposing their heads 

 between the eye of the observer and the bottom of the cell ; 

 but the partition, whereon their teeth laboured, had become 

 so transparent as to expose what passed on the other side. 



" The cavities of which we speak formed the bottom of 

 the first three cells; and while the bees engaged were 

 advancing them to perfection, other workers commenced 

 sketching a second row of cells above the first, and partly 

 behind those in front for, in general, their labour proceeds 

 by combination. We cannot say, ' When bees have finished 

 this cell, they will begin new ones ;' but, ' while particular 

 workers advance a certain portion, we are certain that others 

 will carry on the adjacent cells.' Further, the work begun 

 on one face of the comb is already the commencement of that 

 which is to follow on the reverse. All this depends on a 

 reciprocal relation, or a mutual connexion of the parts, 

 rendering the whole subservient to each other. It is un- 

 doubted, therefore, that slight irregularities on the front will 

 affect the form of the cells on the back of the comb." * 



* Huber on Bees, p. 368. 



