110 MANUAL OP THE APIART. 



site side of the comb. Thus, the base of each cell forms 

 one-third of the base of each of three opposite cells. One 

 side thus braces the other, and adds much to the strength of 

 the comb. Each cell, then, is in form of a hexagonal prism, 

 terminating in a flattened triangular pyramid. 



The bees usually build several combs at once, and cany 

 forward several cells on each side of each comb, constantly 

 adding to the number, by additions to the edge. Huber first 

 observed the process of comb-building, noticing the bees 

 abstract the wax-scales, carry them to the mouth, add the 

 frothy saliva, and then knead and draw out the yellow ribbons 

 which were fastened to the top of the hive, or added to the 

 comb already commenced. 



The diameter of the worker-cells (Fig. 28, c) averages little 

 more than one-fifth of an inch — Reaumur says two and 

 three-fifths lines or twelfths of an inch. While the drone- 

 cells (Pig. 28, a) are a little more than one-fourth of an in.ch, 

 or, according to Reaumur, three and one-third lines. But 

 this distinguished author was quite wrong when he said : 

 " These are the invariable dimensions of all cells that ever 

 were or ever will be made." The depth of the worker-cells 

 is a little less than half an inch ; the drone-cells are slightly 

 extended so as to be a little more than half an inch deep. 

 These cells are often drawn out so as to be an inch long, when 

 uSed solely as honey receptacles. The capping of the brood- 

 cells is dark, porous, and convex, while that of the honey is 

 white and concave. 



The character of the cells, as to size, that is whether they 

 are drone or worker, seems to be determined by the relative 

 abundance of bees and honey. If the bees are abundant 

 and honey needed, or if there is no queen to lay eggs, drone- 

 comb (Fig. 28, a) is invariably built, while if there are few 

 bees, and of course little honey needed, then worker-comb 

 (Fig. 28, c) is almost as invariably formed. 



All comb when first formed is clear and transparent. The 

 fact that it is often dark and opaque implies that it has been _ 

 long used as brood-comb, and the opacity is due to the 

 innumerable thin cocoons which line the cells. These may 

 be separated by dissolving the wax ; which may be done by 

 putting it in boiling alcohol. Such comb need not be dis- 



