22 BEE CULTURE. 
quent ones being built up and around these, which are 
usually three in number. The size and shape of the cell is 
determined by its future use; but ail comb is formed of two 
sheets of cells placed back to back, the partition walls of the 
two sheets always alternating with one another. If the 
comb is intended for brood, 25 cells of worker-brood, and 16 
of drone, go to the square inch.” 
Neighbour, in his work on “The Apiary,” says : 
‘Wax is the animal fat of the bees, and to produce it 
requires a considerable consumption of honey, to supply the 
drain upon the system. To be capable of passing through 
the pores of the abdomen, the wax must, no doubt, bea 
liquid, oily matter, which, on making its appearance outside 
the abdominal rings, thickens, and exudes from under the 4 
medial ones, in flakes like fish-scales, one on each side ; so 
that there are 8 of these secreting cavities, which are pecu- 
liar to the worker, not being found either in the queen or 
drone. 
“The rapidity with which comb-building progresses would 
lead to the supposition that there is a division of labor among 
bees, just as laborers convey building material to the artisans 
on the scaffold above. This work of comb-building is carried 
forward in warm weather, for a cold temperature interferes 
with the secretion of wax. Von Berlepsch declares that he 
has known cases in which a colony has built 300 square 
inches of comb in a single night!” 
The Rev. L. lL. Langstroth remarks as follows : 
“Tt is an interesting fact, which seems hitherto to have 
escaped notice, that honey-gathering and comb-building go 
on simultancously ; so that when one stops, the other ceases 
also, As soon as the honey-harvest begins to fail, so that 
consumption is in advance of production, the bees cease to 
build new comb, even although large portions of their hives 
are unfilled. When honey no longer abounds in the fields, 
it is wisely ordered that they should not consume in comb- 
building, the treasures which may be needed for winter use. 
What safer rule could have been given them ?” 
With all our ingenuity and skill, we have been entirely 
unable to equal the bees as builders. Only fancy what 
delicate work it takes to produce comb, the 180th part of an 
