1^6 Description of Comb. 



cells from 17 to 19 per square inch. 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. This depth, even of brood-cells, varies, 

 so we cannot give exact figures. These cells are often 

 drawn out so as to be an inch long, when used solely as honey 

 receptacles. The number of cells in a pound of comb will 

 vary much of course, as the thickness of the comb is not 

 uniform. This number will vary from thirty to fifty 

 thousand. In capping the honey the bees commence at the 

 outside and finish at the center. The capping of the brood- 

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

 cells is white and concave. This capping of honey-cells is 

 made thicker by black bees than by the other races, and so 

 their comb honey is more beautiful. Another reason for 

 the white color comes from a small air chamber just 

 beneath the capping. The inner surface of the capping is, 

 therefore, usually free from honey. This chamber is usually 

 a little larger in the honey-comb of black bees. The cap- 

 pings are strengthened by tiny braces of wax, which, as 

 we should expect, are most pi-onounced in drone-comb. 



The strength of comb is somewhat marvelous. I have 

 known a frame of comb honey eleven inches square, to 

 weigh eleven pounds, and yet to be unsupported at the 

 bottom, and for not more than one-third of the distance 

 from the top on the sides, and yet it held securely. The 

 danger in cold weather, from breaking, is greater, as then 

 the comb is very brittle. 



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. 53, a) is invariably built, while if 

 there are few bees, and of course little honey needed, then 

 worker-comb (Fig. 53, c) is almost as invariably formed. 

 It is also a curious fact that if the queen keeps along with 

 the comb-builders in the brood chamber, then no drone- 

 comb is built; but let her fail to keep cells occupied, and 

 drone-comb is at once formed. It would seem that the 

 workers reasoned thus: We are going to have comb for 



