86 INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



and another takes her place, deepening the hol- 

 low, and heightening its sides by heaping up the 



wax to the right and left, 

 by means of the teeth 

 and fore feet. More 

 than twenty bees succes- 

 COMMENCEMENT OF CELLS sivcty employ themselves 

 in this work. When arrived at a certain point, other 

 bees begin on the yet untouched and opposite side 

 of the mass, and commencing the bottom of two 

 cells, are in turn relieved by others. "While still 

 engaged in this labour the wax-makers return, and 

 add to the mass, increasing its extent every way, 

 the nurse bees again continuing their operations. 

 After having worked the bottoms of the cells of 

 the first row into their proper forms, they polish 

 them, and give them finish, while others begin the 

 outline of a new series. 



The cells themselves, consisting of six-sided 

 tubes, are next constructed. The bees commence 

 by making the edges of the cavities of equal height, 

 so that all the margins of the cells offer an uni- 

 formly level surface. The sides are heightened in 



