Eafe and Writings of Francis Huber. 123 
second volume of the second edition of his work ‘published in sett 
which was edited in part by his son. 
_ The origin of the wax, was at that time, a point in ee linc of 
bees much disputed by naturalists. By some it was asserted, though 
without sufficient proof, that it was fabricated by the bee from the 
honey. Huber, who had already happily cleared up the origin of © 
the propolis, confirmed this opinion with respect to the wax by nu- 
merous observations, and showed very particularly, with the aid of 
Burnens, how it escaped in a laminated form from between the rings 
of the abdomen.* He instituted laborious researches to discover 
how the bees prepare it for their edifices; he followed step by step 
the whole construction of those wonderful hives, which seem, by 
their perfection, to resolve the most delicate problem of geometry ; 
he assigned to each class of bees the part it takes in this-construc- 
tion, and traced their labors from the rudiments of the first cell to 
the completed perfection of the comb. He made known the rava- 
ges which the Sphinx atropos produces in the hives into which it in- 
sinuates itself;+ he even endeavored to unravel the history of the 
senses of bees, and especially to examine the seat of the sense of 
smell, the existence of which is proved by the whole history of these 
insects, while the situation of the organ had never been determined 
with any certainty. Finally, he prosecuted a curious research into 
.the respiration of bees. He proved by very many experiments that 
bees consume oxygen gas like other animals. But how can the air 
become renewed, and preserve its purity, in a hive plastered with ce- 
ment, and. closed on all sides except at the narrow orifice which» 
serves fora door? This problem demanded all the sagacity of our 
observer, and he at length ascertained that the bees, by a particular 
movement of their wings, agitated the air in such a way as to effect 
its renovation ;—and having assured himself of this by direct obser- 
: vation, he further proved its correctness by means of artificial ven- 
* tiation. 
These experiments on respiration required some analysis o of the 
air of hives, and this circumstance brought Huber into connection 
with Sennebier, who was much engaged in analogous researches with 
respect to vegetables. Among the means which Huber had con- 
* The works of Huber on this subject appeared in the Bib. Britannique, under 
the title of Premiere memoire sur Vorigine de la Cire, T. XXV, p. 59; but they 
have been resumed and extended in the second edition of his researches. = ___ 
+ This part of his researches had already appeared in the pir emo 8 Briten- 
nique, in 1804, t. XX VII, pp. 275 and 358, under the title of letter to M. Pictet 
