OF NATURAL HISTORY. ^^^-^ 



as to occupy in the hive the lead poffible fpace. Every part of this 

 problem is completely executed by the bees. By applying hexago- 

 nal cells to each other's ficfes, no void fpaces are left betvreen them ; 

 and, though the fame end might be accompliflied by other figures, 

 yet they would neceflarily require a greater quantity of vi^ax. Be- 

 fides, hexagonal cells are better fitted to receive the cylindrical bodies 

 of thefe infe<Sts. A comb confifts of two ftrata of cells applied to 

 each other's ends. This arrangement both faves room in the hive, 

 and gives a double entry into the cells of which the comb is com- 

 pofed. As a farther faving of wax, and preventing void fpaces, the 

 bafes of the cells in one ftratum of a comb ferve for bafes to the op- 

 pofite ftratum. In a word, the more minutely the conftrudtion of 

 thefe cells are examined, the more will the admiration of the obfer- 

 ver be excited. The walls of the cells are fo extremely thin, that 

 their mouths would be in danger of fuffering by the frequent enter- 

 ing and iffuing of the bees. To prevent this difafter, they make a 

 kind of ring round the margin of each cell, and this ring is three or 

 four times thicker than the walls. 



It is difficult to perceive, even with the affiftance of glafs-hives, 

 the manner in which bees operate when conftruifting their cells. 

 They are fo eager to afford mutual affiftance, and, for this purpofe, 

 fo many of them crowd together, and are perpetually fucceeding 

 each other, that their individual operations can feldom be diftindtly 

 obferved. It has, however, been plainly difcovered, that their two 

 teeth are the only inftruments they employ in modelling and polifh- 

 ing the wax. With a little patience and attention, we perceive cells 

 juft begun : We likewife remark the quicknefs with which a bee 

 moves its teeth againft a fmall portion of the cell. This portion 

 the animal, by repeated ftrokes on each fide, fmooths, renders com- 

 paA, and reduces to a proper thinnefs of confidence. While fome 

 of the hive are lengthening their hexagonal tubes, others are laying 



U u t the 



