WAX. 67 



those in which young drones are to be developed 

 would be considerably larger than those prepared for 

 workers. This is, indeed, the case. But as an abrupt 

 change from the one kind to the other would be 

 impossible without waste, the bees prudently gradu- 

 ate the difference by interposing a suitable series of 

 intermediate sizes, whose bottoms, of course, have to 

 depart from the normal conditions, and sometimes 

 consist of two rhomboids and two hexagons, varying 

 in size and form, and corresponding with four, instead 

 of three, opposite cells. In these, stores are often 

 found, instead of brood. If eggs are laid in them, 

 they are generally those which will develop into 

 males, and the space for development being smaller 

 than usual, the drones occupying such cells are not 

 so large as the average size. 



As a rule, the hexagonal ends of twenty-seven 

 worker cells, or nineteen drone cells, occupy a 

 surface of one square inch. All the cells lie not 

 quite horizontally, but sloping slightly downwards 

 from the mouth towards the bases. This arrange- 

 ment is designed to prevent the honey from easily 

 flowing out. As the cells are filled with the liquid, 

 the lower edge of each is first raised, and, in due 

 time, the whole of the once open end is sealed over 

 with a coating of wax mixed with a little propolis. 

 This covering not only keeps the contents from run- 

 ning out, but prevents fermentation or candying, from 

 contact with the air. 



Each comb consists of a double layer of cells, back 

 to back, and forming a sort of flat cake. At first 

 this is lenticular in shape, the middle part being 

 advanced rather more rapidly than the ends. 



F 2 



