BEES-WAX. 365 



creting cavities, which are peculiar to working 

 bees. Each working bee has eight of these or- 

 gans, sacklets or small compartments. Their 

 general shape is an irregular pentagon, and the 

 plates of wax, being moulded in them, exhibit 

 accordingly the same form. A perforation of 

 their lining membrane on the side next to the 

 abdomen, started a jet of transparent fluid, which 

 congealed on cooling ; in this state it resembled 

 wax, and became again fluid on the application 

 of heat. Comparative experiments were made 

 with the substance contained in the pouches and 

 with the wax of fresh combs : a great similarity 

 between these two substances was discerned ; 

 the latter appeared somewhat more compound, 

 having probably received some additional in- 

 gredient, while employed as the material for 

 building. The secreting function of the mem- 

 brane on the inner surface of these cavities, was 

 further evinced, by a more minute examination 

 of its structure, which exhibited a number of 

 folds, forming an hexagonal net-work, analogous 

 to the inner coat of the second stomach of ru- 

 minating quadrupeds. Huber does not appear 

 to have known the observations either of Duchet 

 or of Wildman on this subject, although they 

 were made long prior to Mr. Hunter's ; for he 

 quotes only from the latter. 



When combs are wanted, bees fill their crops 



