HIVE- UK IS. 97 



scales, though he conjectured they might be taken 

 up by others, if they were once shaken out from 

 between the rings*. 



We need not be so much surprised at mistakes 

 committed upon this subject, when we recollect that 

 honey itself was believed by the ancients to be an 

 emanation of the air — a dew that descended upon 

 flowers, as if it had a limited commission to fall only 

 on them. The exposure and correct ion of error is 

 one of the first steps lo genuine knowledge ; and 

 when we are aware of the stumbling-blocks which 

 have interrupted the progress of others, we can 

 always travel more securely in the way of truth. 



That wax is secreted, is proved both by the wax 

 pouches within the rings of the abdomen, and by 

 actual experiment t- Huber and others fed bees 

 entirely upon honey or sugar, and, notwithstanding, 

 wax was produced and combs formed as if they had 

 been at liberty to select their food. " When bees 

 were confined," says M. Huber, " for the purpose of 

 discovering whether honey was sufficient for the 

 production of wax, they supported their captivity 

 patiently, and shewed uncommon perseverance in 

 rebuilding their combs as we removed them. Our 

 experiments required the presence of grubs ; honey 

 and water had to be provided; the bees were to be 

 supplied with combs containing brood, and at the 

 same time it was necessary to confine them, that they 

 might not seek pollen abroad. Having a swarm by 

 chance, which had become useless from sterility of 

 the queen, we devoted it for our investigation in one 

 of my leaf hives, which was glazed on both sides. 

 We removed the queen, and substituted combs con- 

 taining eggs and young grubs, but no cell with 

 farina ; even the smallest particle of the substance 



* Philosophical Trans, for 1792, p. 143. * Pee p. 103. 



