93 INSECT AHCH1TECTURE. 



ment, after supplying a hive deprived of a queen with 

 brood and pollen, he saw ihe nurse-bees quickly oc- 

 cupied in the nutrition of the grubs, while those of 

 the wax-working class neglected thein. When hives 

 are full of combs, the wax-workers disgorge their 

 honey into the ordinary magazines, making no wax : 

 but if they want a reservoir for its reception, and if 

 their queen does not find cells ready made wherein 

 to lay her eggs, they retain the honey in the stomach, 

 and in twenty-four hours they produce wax. Then 

 the labour of constructing combs begins. 



It might perhaps besupposed that, when the country 

 does not afford honey, the wax-workers consume 

 the provision stored up in the hive. But they are 

 not permitted to touch it. A portion of honey is 

 carefully preserved, and the cells containing it are 

 protected by a waxen covering, which is never re- 

 moved except in case of extreme necessity, and 

 when honey is not to be otherwise procured. The 

 cells are at no time opened during summer ; 

 other reservoirs, always exposed, contribute to the 

 daily use of the community ; each bee, however, sup- 

 plying itself from them with nothing but what is 

 required for present wants. Wax-workers appear 

 with large bellies at the entrance of their hive, only 

 when the country affords a copious collection of 

 honey. From this it may be concluded, that the 

 production of the waxy matter depends on a con- 

 currence of circumstances not invariably subsisting. 

 Nurse-bees also produce wax, but in a very inferior 

 quantity to what is elaborated by the real wax-workers. 

 Another characteriNtie whereby an attentive observer 

 can determine the moment of bees collecting sufficient 

 honey to produce wax, is the strong odour of both 

 these substances from the hive, which is not equally 

 intense at any other time. From such data, it was 

 easy for M. Huber to discover whether the bees 



