BOOK XI. X. 21-24 



their thighs, which are covered with scales so as to 

 serve this purpose, and with their beak load their 

 front feet, and when fully loaded return bulging 

 with their burden. Each is received by three or 

 four others who reUeve him of his load : for indoors 

 also the duties are divided — some build, othei*s 

 pohsh, others bring up material, others prepare 

 food from what is brought to them ; for they do not 

 feed separately, so that there shall be no inequahty 

 of work or food or time. In building they begin 

 with the vaulting of the hive, and they bring down 

 as it were a web from the top of a loom, with two 

 balks round each square of work, so that some may 

 come in and others go out. The combs hang firmly 

 attached to the upper part and also a httle to the 

 sides at the same time, but they do not reach to the 

 floor of the hive ; sometimes they are oblong and 

 sometimes round, according as the shape of the 

 hive requires, and occasionally also of both Idnds, 

 when two swarms whose members are friendly 

 have different customs. They prop up combs that 

 are incHned to fall, the party-walls between the 

 pillars being arched from the ground level so as to 

 supply access for the purpose of repairing. The 

 first three rows or so are arranged empty, so that 

 there may not be any obvious temptation to a thief ; 

 the last ones are filled fullest with honey ; 

 consequently the combs are taken out from the back 

 of the hive. Carrier bees wait for favourable breezes. 

 If a storm arises, they steady themselves with the 

 weight of a httle pebble held in their feet ; some 

 authorities say that it is placed on their shoulders. 



* Pintianus (e Colmndla) : obliqui. 



447 



