WAX. 117 



account of the first foundation of combs, somewhat 

 amusing, if not instructive. 



HUDEK 8 ACCOUNT OF A COMMENCEMENT OF COMB. 



Huber, it is said, " having provided a hive with 

 honey and water, it was resorted to in crowds by bees, 

 who, having satisfied their appetite, returned to the 

 hive. They formed festoons, remained motionless for 

 twenty-four hours, and after a time scales of wax 

 appeared. An adequate supply of wax for the con- 

 struction of a comb having been elaborated, one of 

 them disengaged itself from the centre of the group, 

 and clearing a space about an inch in diameter, at the 

 top of the hive, applied the pincers of one of its legs 

 to its side, detached a scale of wax, and immediately 

 began to mince it with the tongue. During the opera- 

 tion, this organ was made to assume every variety of 

 shape ; sometimes it appeared like a trowel, then 

 flattened like a spatula, and at other times like a 

 pencil, ending in a point.* The scale, moistened with a 

 frothy liquid, became glutinous, and was drawn out 

 like a riband. This bee then attached all the wax it 

 could concoct to the vault of the hive, and went its 

 way. A second now succeeded, and did the like ; a 

 third followed, but owing to some blunder did not put 

 the wax in the same line with its predecessor ; upon 

 which another bee, apparently sensible of the defect, 

 removed the displaced wax, and carrying it to the 

 former heap, deposited it there, exactly in the order 

 and direction pointed out." Now I have some objec- 

 tions toL make to this account. First, in the usual 



