SAGAUITV OF BKES. 265 



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tached, and used for joining tliera together, or to the side. 

 Where two combs do not touch, and yet are close to- 

 gether, a small bar is constructed from one to the other, 

 preventing any nearer approach. This may be observed 

 by tipping the hive a few inches from the perpendicular, 

 after being filled vi'ith combs in warm weather, and per- 

 mitting it to remain thus for a few days. 



Should nearly all the combs in the hive become detached 

 from any cause, and fill to the bottom in a mass of ruin, 

 their first steps are, as just described, to construct pillars 

 to keep them in the same shape. In warm weather they 

 will, in a few days, have made passages throughout every 

 part of the mass, by biting away the combs where they 

 ai'e in contact. Little columns of wax below, support the 

 combs above, irregular to be sure, but as scientific as cir- 

 cumstances will permit. The whole will be firmly fastened 

 together, and not a single piece can be removed without 

 breaking it from the others. 



NO PART 01' THE HIVE INACCBSSIBLE. 



A piece of comb filled with honey, and sealed up, may 

 be put in a glass-box with the ends of these sealed cells, 

 touching the glass. The principle of allowing no part of 

 their tenement to be inaccessible, is soon manifested. They 

 immediately bite off the ends of the cells, remove the 

 honey that is in tbe way, and make a passage next to the 

 glass, leaving a few bars from it to the comb, to steady 

 and keep it in its position. A single sheet of comb lying 

 flat on the bottom-board of a populous swarm is cut away 

 on the under side, by passages in every direction, numer- 

 ous little pillars of wax being left for its support. 



How any person in the habit of watching their proceed- 

 ings, with any degree of attention, could conclude that 

 the bees raised such comb by mechanical means, and then 

 put the props under for its support, is somewhat singular. 

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