ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 349 



is applied by the architect-bee to the roof or 

 bottom of the hive, as the case may be ; and thus 

 a block is raised of a semi-lenticular shape, thick 

 at top and tapering towards the edges. When of 

 sufficient size, a cell is sculptured on one side of 

 it, by the wax-working bees, who relieve one 

 another in succession, sometimes to the number 

 of twenty, before the cell is completely fashioned. 

 At the back and on each side of this first cell, 

 two others are sketched out and excavated. By 

 this proceeding the foundations of two cells are 

 laid, the line betwixt them corresponding with 

 the centre of the opposite cell. As the comb 

 extends, the first excavations are rendered deeper 

 and broader ; and when a pyramidal base is finish- 

 ed, the bees build up walls from its edges, so as to 

 complete, what may be called, the prismatic par 

 of the cell. Every succeeding row of cells is 

 formed by precisely similar steps, until there is 

 sufficient scope for the simultaneous employment 

 of many workers. 



" These, with sharp sickle, or with sharper tooth, 

 Pare each excrescence, and each angle smooth, 

 Till now, in finish'd pride, two radiant rows, 

 Of snow-white cells, one mutual base disclose. 

 Six shining pannels gird each polish'd round, 

 The door's fine rim, with waxen fillet bound, 

 While walls so thin, with sister walls combin'd, 

 Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find." 



EVANS. 

 The pyramidal bases and lateral plates are 



