32 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



had accumulated materials. Soon after the bees have 

 completed the foundations, and constructed a few of the 

 cells of the central comb, they begin two others, one on 

 each side at the proper distance, and in this manner 

 continue to form others in succession, in proportion as 

 the former are advanced. Their object at first seems to 

 be to extend the surface of the work, so as to admit of 

 the greatest possible number of workers being employed 

 at one and the same time. In this way, then, the work 

 proceeds from all points at once ; new cells being begun 

 before the former are completed, so that the comb, while 

 it is in progress of construction, has a semi-lenticular 

 shape, broader at the top and tapering below and to- 

 wards the sides. It extends downwards, however, more 

 rapidly than in any other direction, and its surfaces do 

 not become parallel to each other till the last stage of 

 the building process. When this is completed, the whole 

 is further strengthened by an addition of propolis round 

 the margin of all the cells, and the junctions of every 

 plane, both of the sides and bottoms of the cells, are 

 soldered together by a' lining of the same substance. 

 The cells when new are white, but become gradually 

 darker, and when very ancient are almost black ; and 

 when in this condition the capacity of the cells is so 

 reduced, by the accumulation of cast-off cocoons, as 

 sensibly to diminish the size of the bees bred therein, 

 but the combs are quite good for breeding purposes for 

 five or six years. , 



" So work the Honey Bees, 

 Creatures that by a rule in Nature, teach 

 The art of order to a peopled kingdom." — Shakespeare. 



