32 CONVERSATIONS ON 



works three others, so that her cell, when it is 

 done, is of nine thicknesses of leaves. And 

 you see why, though she cuts the pieces of the 

 same shape, they are not all of one size : they 

 are of three sizes, so as to make the cells 

 within each other smaller and smaller." 



" Bi*t, Uncle Philip, you have not said any 

 thing about the round pieces which she cuts ; 

 how does she use them ?" 



" I will tell you : after she has finished one 

 cell she lays an egg in it, and fills it all round 

 with food nearly liquid ; now as the cell is 

 lying down on its side, all this liquid food 

 would run 'out if it were not corked up, and 

 the bee therefore uses her circular pieces to 

 stop up the cells." 



("And does she really make these round 

 ieces to fit the cell ?" 



" Yes, boys, exactly ; and they are cut too as 

 regularly as if they had been first measured 

 and marked with a pair of compasses. And, 

 more than this, the little creature will fit one in 

 in less than a minute. But the most curious 

 thing is, that sometimes she will fly off to a 

 distance to get this round piece, and bring 

 back one which will exactly suit ; so that it 

 really seems as if she carried the size in her 



