28 miner's AMERICAN 



cut of a royal cell, precisely as taken from one of m; 

 hives : 



ROYAL CELLS HOW CONSTRUCTED. 



The queeti cell is of the exact natural size and shape 

 as it here appears ; but the worker cells are on rather 

 too small a scale to give the tout ensemble in its regular 

 proportions, but that is of little account, since the only 

 object of the cut is, to illustrate the position and natural 

 shape of royal cells alone. 



It will be perceived, that this cell hangs vertically ; 

 that is, with the mouth downward. These cells are 

 generally built upon the edges of the combs ; and for 

 this purpose, the bees leave one side of their combs, 

 without much support along the edges, except an occa- 

 sional bar, or brace, while the opposite edges are firmly 

 cemented to the hive, through their whole length. The 

 distance between the combs that are intended for royal 

 cells, and the side of the hive, is from a quarter to a 

 half an inch ; giving just room enough for these cells, 



