6076 



Entomological Society 



similar manner; hy gumming out several insects at once no time need be lost, as 

 whilst one specimen was under process, the others would be drying. 



Mr, Tegetmeier exhibited a newly constructed bee-hive, which consisted of two or 

 more boxes, designed lo be placed one above the other, each one furnished with move- 

 able bars, to which the combs are attached, thus affording great facility for the removal 

 of the latter, either for the purpose of scientific research, the partial deprivation of 

 honey, or the artificial production of swarms. The bars are retained in their places by 

 long wooden slides passing between them, which obviate the necessity for covers, 

 enable a single bar of comb to be removed without disturbing those remaining, and 

 permit the removal of the top boxes to be most readily accomplished. The boxes are 

 square in form, and so constructed that bars of brood or huney-cumb can be easily 

 transferred from one to another. 



Some discussion having arisen relating to the construction of the cells of the hive 

 bee, Mr. Waterhouse stated that he was of opinion that the hexagonal form of cell 

 was accidental, so far as the constructors of the cell were concerned; and, having been 

 called upon to explain his views, he proceeded, in the first place, to call attention to 

 the fact that if a number of cylinders of equal size were packed close together, side by 

 side, each cylinder would be surrounded by six others; that, assuming the cylin- 

 drical form (or at least a form of cell approaching more or less to the cylindrical, 

 and having a circular section) was the type form of isolated cells constructed by different 

 kinds of bees, and that, in the case of the hive bee, a number of insects worked 

 together, first depositing a small portion of wax, then excavating a small circular 

 cavity in the same, for the commencement of a cell ; this then being followed by the de- 

 position of more wax and the excavation of more cavities, and these being placed close 

 to the first; then neither of the cells could be constructed of their natural diameter, 

 provided the first cavity formed had not attained the full diameter of the complete cell. 

 The diameters of the cells would intersect each other ; but, if partitions be left between 

 them, the cell must be six-sided, if the cells remain equal in size. In order to make 

 the idea more clear, he (Mr. Waterhouse) would assume for a moment that it were a 

 law that a number of equal-sized circles, being packed closely together, side by side, 

 and that each circle was then surrounded by seven others; he believed that the cell of 

 the hive bee would, in that case, have been seven-sided. Such were the views enter- 

 tained many years back by Mr. W., and published by him in the ' Penny Cyclopaedia ;' 

 and having subsequently had his attention particularly directed to the subject, whilst 

 examining the nests of a vast number of Hymenopterous insects, he still believes those 

 views lo be essentially correct. He now, however, has reason to believe that it is not 

 absolutely necessary for the supposed natural diameters of the cells to intersect before 

 an angular-formed cell would be produced. The instinct which leads an insect to ex- 

 cavate, in order to form a cell, may lead it to excavate beyond what would be neces- 

 sary to form a sufficiently large ceil, in the case of an insect, which, under ordinary 

 circumstances, burrows until it comes in contact with an adjoining cell. Contact with 

 other cells was the essential condition which influenced the angular form of any par- 

 ticular cell. It has been brought as an objection to his theory, Mr. W. went on to say, 

 that, in the case of the wasp or hornet, a single female insect constructs hexagonal 

 cells. This is true, but the same principle obtains, — no wasp builds a single, isolated, 

 hexagonal cell ; when wasps, or allied Hymenoptera, build hexagonal cells, many 

 cells are built almost simultaneously, the first cell has made the least possible progress 



