POLLEN THE CONSTITUENT OF WAX. 385 



actual experience of so skilful a naturalist as Latreille, 

 whose opinion is scientifically correct; whereas the hypo- 

 thesis of Huber is mere fancy and conjecture, without even 

 possessing the support of plausibility, which Mr. Rennie 

 attaches to it. 



If, however, we confine ourselves simply to Latreille, that 

 wax is produced in a stomach into which honey never enters, 

 it follows of course that honey cannot be the constituent 

 principle of wax, as it is in that stomach that the wax is 

 formed. The question then arises, from what source is wax 

 produced ? We answer, by the deglutition of the farina, 

 which, in the second stomach undergoing a certain elabora- 

 tory process, is by the bees manipulated into that sub- 

 stance denominated wax. 



Latreille is, however, by no means solitary in his opinion 

 respecting the origin of wax, for it is now generally adopted 

 by all the French naturalists, who treat on the history of the 

 bee. Thus in Martin's Nouveau Manuel Complet duProprietaire 

 des Abeilles, we read, " La cire est une substance inflammable, 

 concrete, qui n'a point d 'analogue. JElle est le produit des 

 abeilles qui vont rdcolter le pollen des fleurs, pour lui /aire 

 subir dans leur estomac une elaboration particuliere, dont il 

 sera bien difficile d'expliquer le mecanisme, et a Vaide de quelle, 

 cette matiere vegetable est convertie en la substance, dont elles 

 se servent pour construire les alveoles." 



We find the above opinion corroborated in the Dictionnaire 

 des Sciences Naturelles, in which it is said, " II est probable 

 que le pollen des vdgetaux a besoin de subir a V 'action de I 'es- 

 tomac, pour etre change en veritable cire ; car quelque terns 

 apres que les abeilles Vont mange, elles les degorgent par Vex- 

 tremite de la trompe, sous une forme ductile et tres molle, et 

 c'est alors qu'elles construisent les parois des cellules, et dont 

 V ensemble porte le nom de Gateaux ou de Rayons." 



A very favourable opportunity once presented itself to us, 

 and which we had been long anxious to obtain, of com- 



