420 



HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 



When they wish to lengthen an old comb, the tubes of 

 which have acquired their full dimensions, they gradually 

 diminish the thickness of its edges, gnawing down the sides 

 of the cells till it assumes the lenticular form : they then 

 engraft a mass of wax round it, and so proceed with new 

 cells. 



Variations, as has been already hinted, sometimes take 

 place in the position and even form of the combs. Occa- 

 sionally the bees construct cells of the common shape upon 

 the wood to which the combs are fixed, without pyramidal 

 bottoms, and from them continue their work as usual. 

 These cells with a flat bottom, or rather with the wood 

 for their bottom, are more irregular than the common 

 ones; some of their orifices are not angular; and their 

 dimensions are not exact, but all are more or less hexagonal. 

 Once when disturbed, Huber observed them to begin 

 their combs on one of the vertical sides of the hive instead 

 of on the roof. When particular circumstances caused it, 

 as, for instance, when glass was introduced, to which 

 they do not like to fix their combs, he remarked that 

 they constantly varied their direction ; and by repeating the 

 attempt, he forced them to form their combs in the most fan- 

 tastic manner. Yet glass is an artificial substance, against 

 which instinct merely cannot have provided them : there is 

 nothing in hollow trees, their natural habitation, resembling 

 it. When they change the direction of their combs, they 

 enlarge the cells of one side to two or three times the 

 diameter of those of the other, which gives the requisite 

 curve. 



To complete the detail of these interesting discoveries of the 

 elder Huber, I must lay before you the following additional 

 observations of his son. 



The first base of the combs uj)on which the bees work 

 holds three or four cells, sometimes more. The comb continues 

 of the same width for three or four inches, and then begins 

 to widen for three quarters of its length. The bees engaged 

 at the bottom lengthen it downwards; those on the sides 

 widen it to right and left; and those which are employed 

 above the thickest part extend its dimensions upwards. The 



