HYMENOPTERA. 



323 



^s easy to perceive the little plates of wax by slightly raising the 

 last rings of the bee's abdomen. Fig. 315 represents a bee very 

 heavily laden with this matter. 



The working bees suspend themselves from the roof of the 



Fig. 316. Clusters of Bees. 



hive in such a manner as to form, with the wax which they 

 secrete, festoons. The first clings to the roof with his front 

 legs, the second hooks himself on to the hind-legs of the first, 

 and so on, as is shown in Fig. 316. They in this manner form 

 chains, fixed by the two ends to the roof, which serve as a 

 bridge or ladder to the bees which join this assembly. 



The result of all this is at last a cluster or swarm of bees 

 which hangs down to the bottom of the hive. In this attitude 

 they remain at first motionless, waiting till the honey in their 

 stomachs is changed into wax. When the wax is sufficiently 

 elaborated in its organs, one of them detaches itself from the group 



Y2 



