HISTORY OF INSECTS. 35 



105. At the back, and on each side of this first 

 cell, two others are sketched out and excavated : 

 by this proceeding the foundations of two cells 

 are laid, the line betwixt them corresponding with 

 the centre of the opposite cells : as the comb 

 extends, the first excavations are rendered deeper 

 and broader ; and when a pyramidical base is 

 finished, the bees build up walls from its edges, 

 so as to complete what may be called the prismatic 

 part of the cell. 



106. The cells intended for the drones are 

 considerably larger and more substantial than 

 those for the workers; and being formed subse- 

 quently, they usually appear nearer the bottom of 

 the combs : last of all, are built the royal cells for 

 the queens ; of these there are usually three or 

 four, sometimes ten or twelve, in a hive, attached 

 commonly to the central part, but not unfrequently 

 to the edge of the comb. 



107. The form of the royal cells is an oblong 

 spheroid, tapering gradually downwards, and 

 having the exterior full of holes : the mouth 

 of the cell, which is always at the bottom, 

 remains open until the maggot is ready for 

 transformation, and it is then closed like the 

 rest. 



108. When a queen has emerged, the cell m 

 which she was reared is destroyed, and its place 

 supplied by a range of common cells : the site of 

 this range may always be traced by that part of 



D 3 



