The Cotton-bees 



metres in diameter/ The end is occupied by 

 a column of cotton-wool comprising ten cells, 

 without any demarcation between them on the 

 outside, so that their whole forms a continu- 

 ous cylinder. Moreover, thanks to a close 

 felting, the different compartments are 

 soldered together, so much so that, when 

 pulled by the end, the cotton edifice does not 

 break into sections, but comes out all in one 

 piece. One would take it for a single cylinder, 

 whereas in reality the work is composed of a 

 series of chambers, each of which has been 

 constructed separately, independently of the 

 one before, except perhaps at the base. 



For this reason, short of ripping up the 

 soft dwelling, still full of honey, it is im- 

 possible to ascertain the number of storeys; 

 we must wait until the cocoons are woven. 

 1 hen our fingers can tell the cells by count- 

 ing the knots that resist pressure under the 

 cover of wadding. This general structure is 

 easily explained. A cotton bag is made, with 

 the sheath of the reed as a mould. If this 

 guiding sheath were lacking, the thimble 

 shape would be obtained all the same, with no 



'About seven and three-quarter inches by half an i«ch. 

 — Translator's Note. 



281 



