VOL. LXXXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 16/ 



work both down and towards the other end, we often find the larger cells both 

 on the lower part of the combs, and also at the opposite end. These are formed 

 for the males to be bred in ; and in the hornets and wasps' combs, there are 

 larger cells for the queens to be bred in: these are also formed in the lower tier, 

 and the last formed. 



The first comb made in a hive, is all of one colour, viz. almost white; but it 

 is not so white towards the end of the season, having then more of a yellow cast. 



Of the royal cell. — ^There is a cell, which is called the royal cell, often 3 of 4 

 of them, sometimes more; I have seen 1 1, and even 13 in the same hive; com- 

 monly they are placed on the edge of one or more of the combs, but often on 

 the side of a comb; however, not in the centre, along with the other cells, like 

 a large one placed among the others, but often against the mouths of the cells, 

 and projecting out beyond the common surface of the comb; but most of them 

 are formed from the edge of the comb, which terminates in one of these cells. 

 The royal cell is much wider than the others, but seldom so deep: its mouth is 

 round, and appears to be the largest half of an oval in depth, and is declining 

 downwards, instead of being horizontal, or lateral. The materials of which it 

 is composed are softer than common wax, rather like the last-mentioned, or 

 those of which the lower edge of the plate of comb is made, or with which the 

 bees cover the chrysalis: they have very little wax in their composition, not one- 

 third, the rest I conceive to be farina. 



This is supposed to be the cell in which the queen is bred, but I have reason 

 to believe that this is only imagination: for, first, it is too large, and is seldom 

 so deep as the large cells in which the males are bred; whereas, if proportioned 

 to the length of the queen, it ought to be deeper, for length of body is her 

 greatest difference. In the 2d place, its mouth is placed downward; and in the 

 3d place, it is never lined with the silken covering of the chrysalis, similar to the 

 cells of the males and labourers; nor do we find excrement at the bottom of it. 

 The number of these cells is very different, in different hives, I think I have 

 seen hives without any, and I have seen them with 11 or 12, sometimes more. 

 I have examined them at all times through the summer, but never found any 

 alteration in them. 



The comb seems at first to be formed for propagation, and the reception of 

 honey to be only a secondary use; for if the bees lose their queen, they make 

 no combs; and the wasp, hornet, &c. make combs, though they collect no 

 honey; and the humble bee collects honey, and deposits it in cells she never made. 



I shall not' consider the bee as an excellent mathematician, capable of making 

 exact forms, and having reasoned on the best shape of the cell for capacity, so 

 that the greatest number might be put into the smallest space; for the hornet 

 and the wasp are much more correct, though not seemingly under the same 



