252 THE BEE NATION. 



fold changes and irregularities. Almost in every comb 

 irregular and unfinished cells are to be found, especially 

 where the several divisions of a comb come together. The 

 small architects do not begin their comb from a single centre, 

 but begin building from many different points, so as to 

 progress as rapidly as possible, and so that the greatest 

 number may work simultaneously ; they therefore build 

 from above downwards, in the shape of flat truncated cones 

 or hanging pyramids, and these several portions are after- 

 wards united together during the winter building. At these 

 lines of junction it is impossible to avoid irregular cells be- 

 tween the press< d together or unnaturally lengthened ones. 

 The same is true more or less of the passage cells, which 

 are made to unite the large cells of the so-called drone-wax 

 with the smaller ones of the working-bees, and which are 

 generally placed in two or three rows. The cells also which 

 they usually build from the combs to the glass walls of their 

 Lives, in order to hold them up, show somewhat irregular 

 forms. Finally, in places where special conditions of the 

 situation do not otherwise permit, it may be obseryed that 

 the bees, far from clinging obstinately to their plan, very 

 well understand how to accommodate themselves to circum- 

 stances not only in cell-building but also in making their 

 combs. F. Huber tried to mislead their instinct, or rather 

 to put to the proof their reason and cleverness in every 

 possible way, but they always emerged triumphant from the 

 ordeal. For instance, he put bees in a hive the floor and roof 

 of which were made of glass, that is of a body which the bees 

 use very unwillingly for the attachment of their combs, on 

 account of its smoothness. Thus the possibility of building 

 as usual from above downwards, and also from below 

 upwards was taken away from them ; they had no point of 

 support save the perpendicular walls of their dwelling. They 

 thereupon built on one of these walls a regular stratum of cells, 

 from which, building sideways, they tried to carry the comb to 

 the opposite side of the hive. To prevent this Huber covered 

 that side al.-o with glass. But what way out of the difficulty 

 was found by the clever insects? Instead of building 

 further in the projected direction, they bent the comb round 

 at the extreme point, and carried it at a right angle towards 

 one of the inner sides of the hive which was not covered 

 with gla's, and there fastened it. The form and dimensions 



