326 



THE INSECT WOELD. 



the larvse of the workers, the middling- sized ones for the larvae of 

 the males, and the large ones for the Iarva3 of the queens. 



^<sr "V r^^T'^ 









Fig. 317. Cells constructed by Bees. 



These last, that is, the royal cells, are generally only about 

 twenty in number, in a hive containing twenty thousand bees. 

 Constructed of a mixture of wax and of propolis, resembling a 



Fig. 318. The cells of a beehive. A, large cells intended for the larvae of the queens. B, middling- 

 eized cells intended for the larvae of the males. C, small cells intended for the larvae of workers. 



rounded thimble, they form tubes of half an inch long, turned 

 towards the exterior, and placed always vertically, in such a 

 manner as to appear detached from the comb. 



