112 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



used a glass box, inserted in the body of the hive, 

 but easily brought into view by means of screws. 



But no invention hitherto contrived is sufiicient to 

 obviate tvery difficulty. The bees are so eager to 

 afford nv tual assistance, and for this purpose so 

 niany of them crowd together in rapid succession, 

 that the operations of individuals can seldom be 

 traced. Though this crowding, however, appears 

 to an observer to be not a little confused, it is all 

 regulated with admirable order, as has been ascer- 

 tained by Reaumur and other distinguished natu- 

 ralists. 



When bees begin to build the hive, they divide 

 themselves into bands, one of which produces mate- 

 rials for the structure; another works upon these, and 

 forms them into a rough sketch of the dimensions and 

 partitions of the cells. All this is completed by the 

 second band, who examine and adjust the angles, re- 

 move the superfluous wax, and give the work its ne- 

 cessary perfection; and a third band brings provi- 

 sions to the labourers, who cannot leave their work. 

 J3ut no distribution of food is made to those whose 

 charge, in collecting propolis and pollen, calls them 

 to the field, because it is supposed they will hardly 

 forget themselves; neither is any allowance made to 

 those who begin the architecture of the cells. Their 

 province is very troublesome, because they are obliged 

 to level and extend, as well as cut and adjust the wax 

 to the dimensions required; but tlien they soon ob- 

 tain a dismission from this labour, and retire to the 

 fields to regale themselves Vvith food, and wear off 

 their fatigue with a more agreeable employment. 

 Those T,, ho succeed them, draw their moutli, their 

 feet, and the extremity of their body, several times 

 over all the work, and never desist till the whole is 

 polished and completed; and as they frequently need 

 refreshments, and yet are not permitted to retire, 



