36 



THE PRAUTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



(10). If tliey 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 ID themselves, a sure dependence find." 



-Evans. 



(Nj rvi L 



^^ i 



ri». 14.— HONEYCOMB.— (Natural siie) 

 A, Queen Cell, from which Queen hae hatched, showing lid ; B, Queen Cell, 

 torn open; C, Queen Cell, cut down; D, Drone Grub; E, Drone Cell, partly 

 sealed; F, Drone Celle, sealed; G, "False" Queen Cell, and beyond — Worker 

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

 Honey; K, Fresh Pollen Masses; L, Cells nearly filled with Pollen; M, Aborted 

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



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

 Intermediate or Accommodation Cells — are constructed to con- 

 nect worker and drone, or queen, cells. 



