Building Comb — A71 Accident. 67 



that any rain driven into a hive might run out again 

 at once. This pleased the bees, who hate damp 

 beyond any thing. 



The swarm now began preparations for the great 

 work of forming the comb ; and hung from the top, 

 no longer in a ball, but in sheets or strings, about 

 which the bees could freely pass. 



They formed, in fact, living scaffolding; and, as 

 they themselves produced material for the building, 

 all the trouble of hauling and carrying was saved. 



Each bee, besides holding on as tightly and as 

 patiently as a postage-stamp, was busily employed 

 in preparing plates of wax. 



These were secreted in pockets on the under side 

 of the abdomen, from which the bees drew them 

 when ready for use, working and molding them in 

 their mouths. 



" I wonder how you can all goon so long without 

 eating," rf marked Buz at length in a general 

 sort of way to the bees about her. 



" In the same way that you can," answered one of 

 them. 



" Oh, / took in as much honey as ever I could, 

 just before we swarmed," said Buz. 



" Well, so we almost all did," replied her friend ; 

 " it is an instinct with bees." 



