WAX, AND BEE ARCHITECTURE. 



J 57 



Ether melts wax with difficulty, the scales for a long 

 period remaining in it intact ; whilst comb-wax 

 breaks up into minute fragments. When the bee 

 is engaged in building comb, the wax scales standing 

 out beneath the pockets, as we see them in Fig. 35, 

 are removed, as required, by the pincer of the third 

 leg (page 130), which is applied immediately against 

 the body, with the planta {p, B, Plate V.) turned 

 from the tibia, so as to widely separate the jaws 

 of the pincers, whose bristle teeth are now passed 



Fig. 35.— Under Side of Worker, carrying Wax Scales 

 (Magnified Three times). 



adroitly beneath the wax scale. The two joints 

 being brought into line, the teeth pierce the scale, 

 which the leg in turn draws from the secreting 

 membrane, to be transferred to the front legs, and 

 thence to the mouth, where it is held perpendicu- 

 larly, and laboriously masticated with salivary secre- 

 tion, imparting to it the new and necessary quality 

 of ductility, and bringing about the other changes 

 already noticed. 



