68 THE HONEY-BEE. 



It is a curious fact that the bees do not, on being 

 put into a hive, or when working in a bell-glass, begin 

 several combs at once ; but, having thoroughly laid 

 the foundation of one, and having made some pro- 

 gress with this, they then start one on each side of 

 the first, and, after a time, one on the outer side of 

 each of the last begun. Usually, therefore, the combs 

 hang in parallel series. If any obstruction occurs, a 

 deviation from the normal direction takes place, but, 



FIG. 18. ARRANGEMENT OF COMBS IN A BELL-GLASS. 



manifest intelligence is shown in surmounting the 

 difficulty, whatever it may be. 



At first, the substance of the cells is of a dull, semi- 

 transparent, white colour, soft, and very brittle. After 

 a time, a yellow tinge spreads over the comb, and, 

 with age, this hue deepens to brown, and if some 

 years old, becomes almost black. The colour, there- 

 fore, furnishes a tolerably safe guide as to the age of 

 comb. The darkening seems due, partly to a chemical 

 change from contact with the air, but still more to 

 the constant traffic of the bees over it, and its getting 

 smeared with dirt and propolis. 



