THE HONEY-BEE. 31 
If there is sufficient warmth in the hive, produced 
either by warm weather or gencrated 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. 
PROCESS 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 i 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 afew 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 
