350 ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 



successively formed, with surprising rapidity : the 

 latter are lengthened as the comb proceeds, for 

 the original semi-lenticular form is preserved till 

 towards the last, when if the hive or box be filled, 

 the sides of all the cells receive such additions as 

 give them equal depth. 



The cells intended for the drones are considerably 

 larger, and more substantial, than those for the 

 working bees, and, being later formed, usually 

 appear near the bottom of the combs. Last of all 

 are built the royal cells, the cradles of the infant 

 queens : of these there are usually three or four, 

 and sometimes ten or twelve, in a hive, attached 

 commonly to the central part, but not unfrequently 

 to the edge or side of the comb. MR. HUNTER 

 says that he has seen as many as thirteen royal 

 cells in a hive, and that they have very little wax 

 in their composition, not one-third, the rest he 

 conceives to be farina. Such is the genuine loyalty 

 of bees, that the wax which they employ with so 

 much geometric ceconomy, in the construction of 

 hexagonal cells, is profusely expended on the 

 mansions of the royal bee-nymph, one of these 

 exceeding in weight a hundred of the former. 

 They are not interwoven with them, but sus- 

 pended perpendicularly, their sides being nearly 

 parallel to the mouths of the common cells, 

 several of which are sacrificed to support them. 



" No more with wary thriftiness imprest, 

 They grace with lavish pomp their royal guest, 



