WAX, AND BEE ARCHITECTURE. l8l 



elusive to the unbiassed mind, that I cannot help 

 supposing that it possibly applies in this matter. If 

 I ventured on a theory, it would take this form. The 

 throwing up of the cell walls from the three contiguous 

 obtuse angles of three adjoining cells produces the 

 triangular piece (transparent in A), with a depression 

 in its centre, and which an examination of every 

 drone comb (store or brood) will reveal. The worker 

 pitting these concavities forms the wax pieces which 

 strengthen the angles, as previously mentioned, 

 while their edges, naturally becoming prominent, 

 furnish the six straps, by simple junction, when, 

 between the latter, a comparatively flat sealing is 

 thrown across. 



Pure wax is perfectly white ; the propolis added 

 as a varnish is the usual, though by no means invari- 

 able, source of its yellow colour, which may depend 

 upon some peculiarity in the nectar the bee is gather- 

 ing at the time of building; but combs in which breed- 

 ing has taken place are always more or less brown. 

 This has been explained by stating that the cast 

 skin of the grub causes the discoloration. The cast 

 skin, however, is a delicate and transparent pellicle, 

 and gives no colour to the comb. We have already 

 learned that the toning is due to the residua of the 

 bowels, plastered outside the exuvium, within the cell 

 wall. This material at first fills the corners, as may 

 be seen by examining cells in which one hatch only 

 has occurred, when the angles will be dark, while 

 the sides will be only very slightly stained. In this 

 connection, Fig. 4 may be examined with advantage. 

 After a few hatches, all angularity at the cell base 



