INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 547 
before coming to those of males ; the first ranges of which participate in 
some measure in the irregularity of the former. 
But it is upon the construction of the bottoms of the intermediate ranges 
of cells that this variation of their architecture chiefly hinges. The 
bottoms of the regular cells of bees are, as you are aware, composed of three 
equal-sized rhomboidal pieces; and the base of a cell on one side of the 
comb is composed of portions of the bases of three cells on the other; but 
the bottoms of the intermediate cells in question (though their orifices are 
perfectly hexagonal) are composed of four pieces, of which two are hexa- 
gonal and two rhomboidal ; and each, instead of corresponding with three 
cells on the opposite side, corresponds with four. The size and the shape 
of the four pieces composing the bottom vary; and these intermediate 
cells, a little larger than the third part of the three opposite cells, comprise 
in their contour a portion of the bottom of the fourth cell. Just below the 
jast range of cells with regular pyramidal bottoms are found cells with 
bottoms of four pieces, of which three are very large, and one very small, 
and this last is a rhomb. The two rhombs of the transition cells are sepa~ 
rated by a considerable interval ; but the two hexagonal pieces are adja- 
cent, and perfectly alike. A cell lower, we perceive that the two rhombs 
of the bottom are not ‘so unequal: the contour of the cell has included a 
greater portion of the opposite fourth cell. Lastly, we find cells in pretty 
considerable number of which the bottom is composed of four pieces per- 
fectly regular — namely, two elongated hexagons and two equal rhombs, 
but smaller than those of the pyramidal bottoms. In proportion as we 
remoye our view from the cells with regular tetrahedral bottoms, whether in 
descending or from right to left, we see that the subsequent cells resume 
their ordinary form: that is to say, that one of their rhombs is gradually 
lessened until it finally disappears entirely ; and the pyramidal form re- 
exhibits itself, but on a larger scale than in the cells at the top of the 
comb. This regularity is maintained ii a great number of ranges, namely, 
those consisting of male cells ; afterwards the cells diminish in size, and 
we again remark the tetrahedral bottoms just described, until the cells have 
once more resumed the proper diameter of those of workers. 
Tt is, then, by encroaching in a small degree upon the cells of the other 
face of the comb, that bees at length succeed in giving greater dimensions 
to their cells; and the graduation of the transition cells being reciprocal on 
the two faces of the comb, it follows that on both sides each hexagonal 
contour corresponds with four cells.» When the bees have arrived at any 
degree of this mode of operating, they can stop there and continue to em- 
ploy it in several consecutive ranges of cells ; but it is to the intermediate 
degree that they appear to confine themselves for the longest period, and 
we then find a great number of cells of which the bottoms of four pieces 
are perfectly regular. They might, then, construct the whole comb on 
this plan, if their object were not to revert to the pyramidal form with 
which they set out.’ In building the male cells, the bees begin their founda- 
tion with a block or mass of wax thicker and higher than that employed 
for the cells of workers, without which it would be impracticable for them 
to preserve the same order and symmetry in working on a larger scale. 
tregularities (to use the language of Huber, from whom the above 
details are abstracted) have often been observed in the cells of bees. 
eaumur, Bonnet, and other naturalists, cite them as so many examples of 
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