DOMESTICATED INSECTS 255 
“royal cells” are constructed at the edges of the combs as cir- 
cumstances may require. These are somewhat acorn-shaped, with 
downwardly-directed mouths, and a good deal larger than any 
of the hexagonal cells. In them the young queens are reared. 
The workers that produce the wax for comb-construction hang 
suspended in dense clusters 
for many hours, until eight 
little scales of wax have been 
secreted on the under side 
of each of them. They 
then successively visit the 
highest part of the hive, and 
Fig. 1186.—Extended Mouth-parts of a Worker Fig. 1187.—Honey-Comb. a, Small cells in section. 8, 
Bee, seen from above, with the different regions Ditto in surface view. c, Comb with brood, on left develop- 
separated, enlarged. The long ‘‘tongue” is seen in ment of a worker; egg (e), larva (2), pupa (#), imago (w); on 
the centre, and the second jaws (1st maxilla) below. right are seen royal cells (7.c.), the middle one unopened. 
work the scales into a lenticular mass. The hind-legs are used 
for detaching the scales, and the jaws for kneading them. Other 
workers excavate areas corresponding to the cells, building up 
the walls of these from the wax scooped out, and as the work 
proceeds the two sides of the comb are simultaneously operated 
on by two gangs of labourers. At the same time fresh wax is 
added as required to the edges of the growing comb. 
