HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 313 



with its mandibles, rapidly moving its head, it moulds in that side of the 

 wall a cavity which is to form the base of one of the cells, to tlie diam- 

 eter of which it is equal. When it has worked some minutes it departs, 

 and another takes its place, deepening the cavity, heightening its lateral 

 margins by heaping up the wax to right and left by means of its teeth 

 and fore-feet, and giving them a more upright form. More than twenty 

 bees successively employ themselves in this work. When arrived at a 

 certain point, other bees begin on the yet untouched and opposite side of 

 the mass, and commencing the bottom of two cells, are in turn relieved 

 by others. While still engaged in this labor, the wax-makers return and 

 add to the mass, augmenting its extent every way, the nurse-bees again 

 continuing their operations. After having worked the bottoms of the 

 cells of the first row into their proper forms, they polish them and give 

 them their finish, while others begin the outline of a new series. 



The cells themselves, or prisms, which result from the re-union and 

 meeting of the sides, are next constructed. These are engrafted on the 

 borders of the cavities hollowed in the mass. The bees begin them by 

 making the contour of the bottoms, which at first is unequal, of equal 

 height : thus all the margins of the cells offer an uniformly level surface 

 from their first origin, and until they have acquired their proper length. 

 The sides are heightened in an order analogous to that which the insects 

 follow in furnishing the bottoms of the cells ; and the length of these 

 tubes is so perfectly proportioned that there is no observable inequality 

 between them. It is to be remarked, that though the general form of the 

 cells is hexagonal, that of those first begun is pentagonal, the side next 

 the top of the hive, and by which the comb is attached, being much 

 broader than the rest ; whence the comb is more strongly united to the 

 hive than if these cells were of the ordinary shape. It of course follows 

 that the base of these cells, instead of being formed, like those of the 

 hexagonal cells, of three rhomboids, consists of one rhomboid and two 

 trapeziums. 



The form of a new comb is lenticular, its thickness always diminishing 

 towards the edges. This gradation is constantly observable whilst it 

 keeps enlarging in circumference ; but as soon as the bees get sufficient 

 space to lengthen it, it begins to lose this form, and to assume parallel 

 surfaces : it has then received the shape which it will always preserve. 



The bees appear to give the proper forms to the bottoms of the cells 

 by means of their antennae, which extraordinary organs they seem to 

 employ as directors by which their other instruments are instructed to 

 execute a very complex work. They do not remove a single particle of 

 wax until the antennae have explored the surface that is to be sculptured. 

 By the use of these organs, which are so flexible and so readily applied 

 to all parts, however delicate, that they can perform the functions of 

 compasses in measuring very minute objects, they can work in the dark, 

 and raise those wonderful combs the first production of insects. 



Every part of the work appears a natural consequence of that which 

 precedes it, so that chance has no share in the admirable results witnessed. 

 The bees cannot depart from their prescribed route, except inconsequence 

 of particular circumstances which alter the basis of their labor. The 

 original mass of wax is never augmented but by an uniform quantity ; 

 27 



