ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 347 



70 34 f . This was confirmed by the celebrated 

 MR. M C LAURIN, who very justly observes, that 

 the bees do truly construct their cells of the best 

 figure, and with the utmost mathematical ex- 

 actness. 



The construction of several combs is generally 

 going on at the same time. No sooner is the 

 foundation of one laid, with a few rows of cells 

 attached to it, than a second and a third are 

 founded on each side, parallel to the first, and so 

 on, (if the season give encouragement to the 

 operations of the bees,) till the hive is filled with 

 their works ; the first constructed comb or combs 

 being always in the most advanced state, and 

 therefore the first to be completed. 



The design of every comb is sketched out, and 

 the first rudiments are laid, by one single bee. 

 This founder-bee forms a block, out of a rough 

 mass of wax, drawn partly from its own resources, 

 but principally from those of other bees, which 

 furnish materials, in quick succession, from the 

 receptacles under their bellies, taking out the 

 plates of wax with their hind feet, and carrying 

 them to their mouths with their fore feet, where 

 the wax is moistened and roasticated, till it be- 

 comes soft and ductile. 



Thus, " filter' d through yon flutterer's folded mail, 

 Clings the cool'd wax, and hardens to a scale. 

 Swift, at the well-known call, the ready train 

 (For not a buz boon Nature breathes in vain,) 



