DISCOVERIES. 9 



From feveral fimilar difappointments I fur- 

 mifed, that the fcantinefs of the opening 

 for communication was the fole caufe. In- 

 ftead of three bars, from that time my boxes 

 were altered to fix, which fucceeded to my 

 utmoft wifli. 



Another time I faw the workers very bufy 

 in demolifning a royal cell, clofe to the 

 window of a bo^ It had been fealed up 

 f ; • d jy ■: : hut continuing lo beyond the 

 Liiual period cf exclufion, I fufpcclcd forne 

 nvifc^ance, ;>nd. therefore 'was very intent to 

 •bftrve the refult. At five o'clock one 

 jmomittg, the workers were very deeply 

 engaged in opening the hdc of the cell : in 

 about two hours they had made a chafm 

 large enough to fee the nymph, and which 

 they were endeavouring to pull out, but in 

 vain. They then proceeded to a further 

 enlargement ; when the queen, with hafty 

 lieps, and anxious looks, as if angry at the 

 delay, began herfelf the arduous tails, the 

 workers remaining quiet fpe&ators. The 

 queen made feveral violent tugs to difengage 

 it, but her efforts proved fruitlefs. She then 



retired, 



