248 WAX. 



While the combs are in progress, the bases of the cells 

 near the edge are always kept much the thickest, and are 

 worked down to the proper tliickuess with their teeth^ and 

 polished smooth as glass. The ends of the cells also, as 

 they lengthen them, will always be found much thicker 

 when finished, than any other part of them. 



Ill the History of Insects, published by Harper, is a 

 miniTte account of the first foundation of combs, somewhat 

 qmusing, if not instructive. 



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

 and -water, it was resorted to, in crowds, by bees, who hav- 

 ing 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 ade- 

 quate supply of wax for the construction of a comb, hav- 

 ing 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 operation, this organ was made to assume every variety 

 of shape ; sometimes it appeared like a trowel, then flat- 

 tened like a spatula, and at other times like a pencil, end- 

 ing in a point. The scale, moistered with a frothy liquid, 

 became glutinous, and was drawn out like a ribbon. 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 

 blrader, did not put the wax in the samfe line with its pre- 

 decessor, 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 criticisms to make on this account. 

 First, in the usual course of swarming, it is unnecessary 



