THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



359 



indicated by the whitened ends of the cell?, 

 in putting on sections. This teaches us the 

 importance of furnishing an abundance of 

 room for the storage of honey, also to in- 

 dulge freely in the use of comb foundation. 



to detect the bee in her methods, that hor- 

 nets or wasps, still we can credit her with 

 more than an equal amount of skill. 



When we consider that the cell walls in 

 the nests of the hornet and wasp, are con- 



BEE8 SECKETING WAX AND BUITjDING OOMB. 



In addition to temperature, we have 

 another factor in wax secretion which should 

 not pass unnoticed. I refer to the immuni- 

 ty from other duties. All have noticed 

 with what alacrity comb building is carried 

 on by the newly hived swarm previous to ex- 

 tended brood rearing. With a high temper- 

 ature and perfect immunity from other 

 duties, wax secretion is carried on most 

 economically. 



Having considered the source of the mate- 

 rial from which comb is built , let us glance 

 at the construction. Although some have 

 accounted for the hexagonal form of cells 

 on the soap bubble theory— that it is due to 

 mutual pressure — I shall express myself in 

 favor of unparalleled skill on the part of 

 the hooey be«. Althoiagh it is more diflQCult 



structed by mechanical skill, the analogy 

 should teach us of a like method. Often- 

 times I have watched hornets and wasps in 

 extending the walls of their domicils, and 

 found the thickness and extension were 

 accomplished alike by both. They are na- 

 ture's paper makers : the material being ob- 

 tained from the weather beaten surface of 

 wood. In extending the cell walls they 

 apply pulp to the edges, placing their man- 

 dibles so as to take the wall between them, 

 thus attaching the plastic material and 

 drawing it out until the proper thickness is 

 attained. The mud wasp also builds her 

 nest in like manner. 



The construction of comb from wax in- 

 volves a higher temperature, and in conse- 

 queuce an increaeed number of bees which 



