THE INGENUITr OF BEES. 31 



within the facts, we may say that the daily consumption 

 and waste of a large and prosperous hive of bees in the 

 summer-time is more than 2 lb. To repair this waste, 

 upwards of 2 lb. of materials have to be collected every 

 day. Beyond this there is often accumulated honey to 

 the amount of 4 lb. and 6 lb. daily in favourable weather. 

 Once — but only once — have we known 20 lb. weight 

 gained by one hive in two days. 



• THE INGENUITY OF BEES. 



This subject also defies description. To mention half 

 the instances of ingenuity seen in a large apiary would 

 fill a book. In the building of combs and formation 

 of cells, design is strikingly evident. Honey-cells are 

 made to dip to the bottom. If a piece of guide-comb 

 is put in wrong side up, the bees adopt it as a commence- 

 ment, but reverse the dip of the cells, so as to make them 

 better shaped for holding honey. The stays and props so 

 frequently given to weak places and loose combs display 

 great ingenuity. 



When a swarm is put into an empty hive which it can 

 only half fill, the bees, on commencing work, find that 

 the way to the door by the sides of the hive is round 

 about, and to shorten the way to the door they let down 

 two or three beautiful bee-ropes, on which to descend and 

 ascend. These ropes are made by one bee suspending 

 itself to another, each bee coming lower down till the 

 board is reached. 



In large hives, three of these ladders are let down and 

 used; and in small hives, only one. It is exceedingly 

 interesting to watch the bees which form and compose 

 these ladders. They remain motionless, allowing those 



