30 



THE PEA.CTIOAL BEE GUIDE. 



(10). If they were built square or triangular they would not 

 be so adapted to the shape of the bees to be reared in them : 

 if they were circular, much valuable space would be sacrificed 

 between the touching circles : being hexagonal they approxi- 

 mate to the shape of the bees ; avoid waste of space ; and so 

 support each other that they can be constructed of the lightest 

 material, and of exceeding delicacy, for 



' Walls so thin, with sister walls combined ; 

 Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find." 



-EvASS, 



fM M L 1^ 



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B 



Fig. 14.— HONEYCOMB.— (Natural size) 



A, Qoeen Cell, from which Queen hag hatched, showing lid; B, Queen Oelli 

 torn opeL ; C, Queen Cell, out down; D, Drone Grub; E, Drone Cell, partly 

 sealed; F, Drone Cells, sealed; G, *' False " Queen Cell, and beyond— Worker 

 Cells, sealed, and Bees emerging from cells ; H, Old Queen Cell ; I, Sealed 

 Honey; K, Fresh Pollen Maesei ; L, Cells nearJy filled with Pollen; M, Aborted 

 Queen Cell on face of Comb ; O, Eggs and Larvae in various conditions. 



oa. Transitional Cells, irregular in shape, — better called 

 Intermediate or Accommodation Cells — are constructed to con- 

 nect worker and drone, or queen, cells. 



