THE HONEY-BEE, 31 



If there is sufficient warmth in the hive, produced 

 either by warm weather or generated by the bees, the queen 

 will fill a spot on the adjoining combs corresponding with 

 the first, but not quite so large. The circle of eggs in the 

 first comb is then enlarged, and more added to the next, 

 and so on, continuing to spread, and keeping the dis- 

 tance from the center to the outside of the space occu- 

 pied by eggs about equally on all sides, until they occupy 

 the entire surface of the comb. Long before the outer 

 edge is occupied, the first eggs deposited are matured, and 

 the queen returns to the center, and uses these cells 

 again, but she is not as particular this time to fill so many 

 in exact order as at first, though with the Italian queens, 

 the brood is always very compact. 



The rapidity with which this brood-nest is extended, 

 depends upon the supply of food that is being collected, 

 the strength of the colony, and their ability to properly 

 protect and care for the maturing brood. 



PEOCBSS OF EGG-LAYING. 



It is very interesting to watch the queen in this 

 operation. I have frequently lifted out a comb on which 

 an Italian queen was engaged in laying, without inter- 

 rupting her in the least. The light has no immediate 

 effect upon her, as she will quietly continue about her 

 duty, not the least embarrassed by curious eyes. 



Before depositing an egg, she enters the cell head 

 first, probably to ascertain if it is in proper condition, as 

 a cell partly filled with pollen or honey, is never used. 

 When it is fit to receive the egg, on withdrawing her 

 head, she immediately curves her abdomen and inserts it. 

 After a few seconds she leaves the cell, when an egg may 

 be seen attached by one end to the bottom. It is about 

 one-sixteenth of an inch in length, slightly curved, very 

 small, nearly uniform the whole length, abruptly rounded 



