THE BEE. 79 



■whom the reproductive organs are but partially de- 

 veloped, andj as they are thereby rendered unfruitful, 

 and consequently unable to assist in peopling the 

 hive, their whole time is devoted to collecting the 

 materials already described, constructing the comb, 

 nourishing the young, attending upon the Queen, de- 

 fending the community ; and, wonderful to relate, in 

 providing for the cleanliness and ventilation of the 

 hive. 



According to Huber, there are two kinds of workers. 

 The first he terms " Abeilles cirieres," or wax-makers, 

 who elaborate the wax, and lay the foimdations of 

 the cells ; the second, " Abeilles nourrices," or Bee- 

 nurses, who continue and complete the formation of 

 the cells, collect honey, &c., feed the young, and per- 

 form the other labours of the hive. 



And now let us consider that most wonderful in- 

 stinctive faculty exhibited in the construction and 

 architecture of the waxen cells which constitute the 

 Bee's habitation; and when we examine the modus 

 operandi of the various kinds of workers, we shall 

 find that they enter upon their labours as systema- 

 tically, and apparently with as perfect design, as do 

 the most experienced architects and builders. 



First of all, a number of wax-makers having as- 

 sembled for the purpose, one of them draws from the 

 wax-pockets or belts situated between the rings of 

 her abdomen, where the wax is secreted, a certain 

 quantity of this material, which she moistens with a 

 fluid from her mouth, and then moulds into the form 



