WAX. 59 



other, the claws of the fore-legs of the lowermost 

 being attached to those of the hind pair of the 

 uppermost, and form themselves into a cluster, the 

 exterior layer of which looks like a kind of curtain. 

 This cluster consists of a series of festoons or gar- 

 lands, which cross each other in all directions, and 

 in which most of the bees turn their back upon the 

 observer. , . . The wax-makers remain immovable 

 for about twenty-four hours, during which period 

 the formation of wax takes place, and thin laminae of 

 this material may be generally perceived under their 

 abdomen. One of these bees is now seen to detach 

 itself from one of the central garlands of the cluster, 

 to make a way amongst its companions to the middle 



FIG. 13. WAX-WORKER COMMENCING A COMB. 



of the vault, or top of the hive, and by turning itself 

 round to form a kind of void, in which it can move 

 itself freely. It then suspends itself to the centre of 

 the space which it has cleared, the diameter of which 

 is about an inch. It next seizes one of the laminae 

 of wax with a pincer formed by the posterior meta- 

 tarsus (last joint of the leg), and tibia (last joint but 

 two), and drawing it from beneath the abdominal 

 segments, one of the anterior legs takes it with its 

 claws and carries it to the mouth. This leg holds 

 the lamina with its claws vertically, the tongue 

 rolled up serving for a support, and by elevating it 

 or depressing it at will, causes the whole of its 



