112 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



used a glass box, inserted in the body of the hive, 

 but easily brought into view by means of scwevvs. 



Hut no invention hitherto contrived is sufficient to 

 obviate every difficulty. The bees are so eager to 

 afford mutual assistance, and for this purpose so 

 many of them crowd together in rapid succession, 

 that the operations of individuals can seldom be 

 traced. Though this crowding, however, appears 

 to an observer to be not a little confused, it is all 

 regulated with admirable order, as has been ascer- 

 tained by Reaumur and other distinguished natu- 

 ralists. 



When bees begin to build the hive, they divide 

 themselves into bands, one of which produces mate- 

 rials for the structure ; another works upon these, and 

 forms them into a rough sketch of the dimensions and 

 partitions of the cells. All this is completed by the 

 second band, who examine and adjust the angles, 

 remove the superfluous wax, and give the work its 

 necessary perfection ; and a third band brings pro- 

 visions to the labourers, who cannot leave their work. 

 But no distribution of food is made to those whose 

 charge, in collecting propolis and pollen, calls them 

 to the field, because it is supposed they will hardly 

 forget themselves ; neither is any allowance made to 

 those who begin the architecture of the cells. Their 

 province is very troublesome, because they are obliged 

 to level and extend, as well as cut and adjust the wax 

 to the dimensions required ; but then they soon ob- 

 tain a dismission from this labour, and retire to the 

 fields to regale themselves with food, and wear off 

 their fatigue with a more agreeable employment. 

 Those who succeed them, draw their mouth, their 

 feet, and the extremity of their body, several times 

 over all the work, and never desist till the whole is 

 polished and completed ; and as they frequently need 

 wefreshments, and yet are not permitted to retire. 



