388 EXUDATION OF WAX. 



and instead of its serving for its aliment, it shall be con- 

 verted into wax by some particular and mysterious process, 

 and exude as such in larger or smaller scales, according to 

 the nature of the bee or the size of the wax-pockets. It 

 must, however, be taken into the account, that exudation 

 presupposes the existence of a porous body ; now in neither 

 of the stomachs of the bee are we able to trace such a con- 

 struction as could lead us to suppose that it were possible 

 that any saccharine substance imbibed into them would be 

 able to transude. 



Huber has also forgotten to mention whether this trans- 

 formation of honey into wax be a natural and invariable 

 principle of action in the bee, or whether it be accidental 

 or optional. If the former be the case, the scales of wax 

 ought to be found between the rings of the abdomen at all 

 times and seasons, and also, without exception, in every bee 

 in the hive. To this part of the system we are enabled to 

 give a decided negative ; for, after the closest examination, we 

 never could discover the presence of the minutest particles 

 of wax in any part of the body. If the transformation be 

 optional, with what an extraordinary power must the bee be 

 invested, and how miraculous must be that concert of action 

 which can so govern the bees, that the transformation of 

 honey into wax shall take place only at particular times and 

 seasons, and that the exuding power shall only be put in 

 force when a supply of wax is required. 



Huber is however very minute in the results of his re- 

 searches, and it is this very extraordinary refinement of de- 

 tail which has obtained for him such a spurious reputation. 

 In the present case, for instance, we are informed, although 

 at the same time there is not a particle of truth in the whole 

 of the information, that amongst the workers in a hive, some 

 belong to the class of architects, who plan and build, and 

 who act also in the capacity of nurses to the young. Others 

 of a lower grade in the community, similar to the Irish hods- 



