BEE PASTUBAQE. 109 



bjng them together is made for a half minute, when 

 they are withdrawn, and the two little loaves of bread 

 may be seen at the bottom. This bee appears to take 

 no farther care about them, but another will soon come 

 along, and enter the cell head first, and pack it close ; 

 this cell is filled about two-thirds of its length in this 

 way, and when sealed over a little honey is used to fill 

 it out. 



PHILOSOPHY IN FttLING A CELL WITH HONEY. 



To witness the operation of depositing honey, a glass 

 hive or box is requisite ; the edges of the combs will 

 be attached to the glass — when honey is abundant, 

 most of these cells next the glass will contain some. 

 Now is the time to see the operation, glass forming one 

 side of such as are in contact, &;c. The bee may be seen 

 to enter the cell till it reaches the bottom ; with its 

 tongue, the first particle is deposited, and brushed into 

 the corners or angles, carefully excluding all the air 

 from behind it — as it is filled, that next the sides of the 

 cell is kept in advance of the centre. The bee does 

 not put its tongue in the cJentre and pour out its load 

 there, but carefully brushes the sides as it fills, exclud- 

 ing every particle of air, and keeps the surface concave 

 instead of convex. This is j ust as a philosopher would 

 say it should be. If it was filled at once and no care 

 taken to attach it to the sides, why, the external air 

 would never keep it there, which it does effectually 

 when of ordinary length. When the cell is about one- 

 fourth of an in:jh deep they often commence filling it, 

 and. as it is lengthened they add to it, keeping it within 



