118 WAX. 



course of swarming, it is unnecessary to provide the 

 honey and water, as they come laden with honey from 

 the parent stock. ISText, to form festoons and remain 

 motionless twenty -four hours to concoct the wax, is 

 not the way they generally manage affairs. They 

 either swallow the honey before leaving home long 

 enough to have the wax ready, or less time than 

 twenty-four hours is needed to produce it. I have 

 frequently found lumps, half the size of a pin's head, 

 attached to the branch of a tree where they had clus- 

 tered, when they had not been there over twenty-five 

 minutes. I have had occasion a few times to change 

 the swarm to another tenement, an hour or two after 

 being hived, and found places on the top nearly cov- 

 ered with wax. How it was managed to see a bee quit 

 the " group," is more than I can comprehend ; and then 

 the tongue to be the only instrument used to mould 

 the scale of wax, is another difficulty ; to witness the 

 whole process minutely in this stage of comb-making 

 has never been my good fortune, and I am sometimes 

 inclined to doubt the success of others. I have had 

 glass hives, and put swarms in them, and always found 

 the first rudiments of comb so entirely covered with 

 bees as to prevent my seeing anything. 



BEST TIME TO WITNESS C0MB-MAB3NG. 



The only time when I have witnessed the process 

 with any degree of satisfaction, is when the combs 

 approach the glass, and but few bees in the way ; then, 

 by watching patiently a few minutes, some part of the 

 process may be seen. 



