54 THE HONEY-BEE. 



sacklets on the under side of each of the four inter- 

 mediate ventral segments of the abdomen. There 

 are two of these pockets to each segment, one on 

 either side of the carina or elevated central part. 

 They are trapeziform in shape, and impart the same 

 form to the tiny plates which emerge from them. 

 On reaching the air the liquid thickens, and dries in 

 flakes like fish-scales. The secretion of wax is carried 

 on by the workers only, queens and drones being 

 destitute of the apparatus necessary for the purpose. 

 No direct communication has been traced between 

 the stomach and the wax-sacks, but it has been con- 

 jectured by Hunter that the secretion is effected by 

 the network of vessels lining the receptacles as a 

 membrane covered with hexagonal cells, somewhat 

 like the second stomach of ruminating quadrupeds. 



Chemically considered, wax consists entirely of 

 carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen ; and, as before men- 

 tioned, is elaborated wholly from honey. Some 

 authors have maintained that pollen is necessary for 

 its production, but this is the case probably only 

 indirectly ,' that is to say, the nitrogenous constituent 

 of pollen may be necessary for the nutriment and 

 stimulation of the secreting organs. It certainly 

 does not enter into the constitution of the wax 

 itself 



The quantity of honey required for this process of 

 wax-making is very large. It is generally believed, 

 in fact, to be from fifteen to twenty times the weight 

 of the material derived from it ; in other words, for 

 every ounce of wax produced, at least a pound of 

 honey is consumed by the bees. During the oxygena- 

 tion of so large a quantity of saccharine matter, much 



