bee-keeper's manual. Ill 



table secretions, the means by which this is accom- 

 phshed appears to be carefully veiled in nature. 



Our researches, by simple observation, thus being ob- 

 structed, we felt it essential to adopt other methods for 

 ascertaining whether wax actually is a secretion, or 

 collection of a particular substance. 



Providing it were the former, we had first to verify 

 the opinion of Reaumer, who conjectured that it, came 

 from an elaboration of pollen in the stomach, though we 

 did not coincide with him in the opinion that bees then 

 disgorged it by the mouth. Neither were we disposed 

 to adopt his sentiments regarding its origin ; for, like 

 Hunter, it had struck us that swarms, newly settled in 

 empty hives, do not bring home pollen, notwithstanding 

 they construct combs, while the bees of old hives, 

 having no combs to build, gather it abundantly. 



We had, therefore, to learn whether bees, deprived of 

 pollen for a series of time would make wax, and all that 

 is required is confinement. 



On the 24th of May, we lodged a swarm which had 

 just left the parent stock, in a straw hive, with as much 

 honey and water as necessary for the consumption of the 

 bees, and closed the entrance so as to prevent all possi- 

 bility of escape, leaving access for renewal of the air. 



At first, the bees were greatly agitated ; but we suc- 

 ceeded in calming them by carrying the hive to a coal- 

 dark place, where their captivity lasted five days. They 

 were then allowed to take flight in an apartment, the 

 windows of which were carefully shut, and where the 

 hive could be examined conveniently. The bees had 



