72 ARCHITECTURE OF BEES, 
while they were at liberty, they might have obtained provisions, on 
the eve, or on the day itself of their imprisonment, and enough might 
have been in the stomach or on the limbs to enable them to extract 
the wax from it that we found in the hive. But if it actually came 
from the farina previously collected, this source was not inexhaustible, 
and the bees being unable to obtain more would cease to construct 
combs, and would fall into inaction. , 
Before proceeding to the second experiment, which was to consist 
in prolonging their captivity, we took care to remove all the combs 
they had formed in that proceeding. Buernens made them return to 
their hive, and confined them again with a new portion of honey. 
The experiment was not tedious. From the evening of the 
subsequent day we observed them working in wax anew, and on 
examining the hive the third day, we actually found five combs as 
regular as those they had made during their first imprisonment. 
The experiment was continued in such a manner as to satisfy Huber 
fully, that feeding on honey effected the secretion of wax in their 
bodies, without the aid of pollen. 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 
Haca comb ina hive is composed of two ranges of cells backed 
against each other. These cells, looking at them as a whole, may be 
said to have one common base, though no one cell is opposed directly 
to another. This base or partition between the double row of cells 
is so disposed as to form a pyramidal cavity at the bottom of each. 
The mouths of the cells thus ranged on each side of a comb, open into 
two parallel streets. These streets or interstices are sufficiently nar- 
row to avoid waste room, and to preserve a proper warmth ; yet, wide 
enough to allow the passage of two bees back to back. The usual 
distance between the combs is somewhat more than one-third of an 
inch. There are apertures also left through the combs to afford a 
