90 



THE BUILDING OF BEES. 



201. If they remfiin quietly clustered together, when 



gorged with honey, or any 

 liquid sweet, the wax is se- 

 creted in the shape of deli- 

 cate scales in four small 

 pouches, on each side of the 

 abdomen of worker-bees. 



Tig. 35. 



SECRETION OP WAX SCALES. 



(HagDifled.) 



"These scales, of an irreg- 



ular pentagonal shape, are so 

 (From the Illu.trierteBienenzeUu.g.") ^.j^j^ ^^^ ^.^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^_ 



drert of them hardly weigh as much as a kernel of wheat."— (Du- 

 bini, "L'Ape.") 



202. In the j'oung bees, which are endowed with a great 

 appetite, they form, probably, without their knowledge, dur- 

 ing the honey season ; and if there is no place to use them, 

 they are gathered in small knots here and there. This 



Fig. 36. 



THB WAX-PRODUCING ORGAN OF THE WORKER-BBB. 



(Magnified. From Girard.) 



only happens when the combs are entirely filled and sealed. 

 It has been noticed, most especially, in hives in which a 

 comb had been broken down by heat. (333.) In such 

 cases, many of the bees gorge themselves with the wasting 

 honey, and cluster on the outside, until the heat has sub- 

 sided, and the running honey has been gathered up. 



