BEE-KEEPER 3 MANUAL. 335 



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by commencing at the outer side of each, and attaching 

 numerous small rings of wax, one within the other, until 

 the whole area is covered. Above this section of the 

 comb, containing cells being sealed over, may be seen 

 a portion of cells fully sealed, and from which the young 

 brood emerge, in the course of about fifteen days after 

 being thus imprisoned. "On the outer skirts, may be 

 seen the vacant cells, not yet appropriated to any use. 



There is no distinction made in a leaf of brood-comb, 

 in regard to what cells shall be used for honey, pollen, 

 or brood. The queen deposits her eggs wherever she 

 finds vacant cells, provided the family be populous ; but 

 if not populous, then she takes^a very different course, 

 and confines her laying exclusively to the centre of the 

 hive, and to the centres of combs, near the top of the 

 tenement. 



In speaking of store-combs, I refer to combs built ex- 

 pressly for that purpose, of a thick, irregular form. The 

 whole interior of the hive is used for storing honey, when 

 the cells are not filled with bee-brood or larvae. 



INSTINCT OF BEES. 



The knowledge that the bee possesses, as displayed in 

 her achitecture, and general economy, is not acquired 

 by habit, or taught her by those older than herself She 

 comes into the world, as perfect as she goes out of it. 

 Many are the astonishing instances of foresight and 

 knowledge, of adapting means to ends, that have come 

 under my personal observation ; but I can give but two 

 or three of the most important cases on this occasion. 



