96 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



correct view of the subject, from observing the great 

 difference between wax and pollen ; but he was in- 

 clined to think the pollen might be swallowed, par- 

 tially digested, and disgorged in the form of a kind 

 of paste. Schirach also mentions, that it was re- 

 marked by a certain Lusatian, that wax comes from 

 the rings of the body, because, on withdrawing a bee 

 while it is at work, and extending its body, the wax 

 may be seen there in the form of scales. 



The celebrated John Hunter shrewdly remarked 

 that the pellets of pollen seen on the thighs of bees 

 are of different colours on different bees, while the 

 shade of the new-made comb is always uniform ; and 

 therefore he concluded that pollen was not the origin 

 of wax. Pollen also, he observed, is collected with 

 greater avidity for old hives, where the comb is com- 

 plete, than for those where it is only begun, which 

 would hardly be the case were it the material of wax. 

 He found that when the weather was cold and wet 

 in June, so that a young swarm was prevented from 

 going abroad, as much comb was constructed as had 

 been made in an equal time when the weather was 

 favourable and fine. 



The pellets of pollen on the thighs being thence 

 proved not to be wax, he came to the conclusion 

 that it was an external secretion originating between 

 the plates of the belly. When he first observed this, 

 he felt not a little embarrassed to explain the phe- 

 nomenon, and doubted whether new plates were 

 forming, or whether bees cast the old ones as lob- 

 sters do their shells. By melting the scales, he ascer- 

 tained at least that they were wax ; and his opinion 

 was confirmed by the fact, that the scales are only to 

 be found during the season when the combs are 

 constructed. But he did not succeed in completing 

 the discovery by observing the bees actually detach the 



