Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 151 
under the same necessity, as they collect nothing to occupy 
their cells) ; because, although the bee is pretty perfect in these 
respects, yet it is very incorrect in others, in the formation of 
the comb: nor shall I consider these animals as forming comb 
of certain shape and size, from mere mechanical necessity, as 
from working round themselves; for such a mould would not 
form cells of different sizes, much less could wasps be guided 
by the same principle, as their cells are of very different sizes, 
and the first by much too small for the queen wasp to have 
worked round herself: but I shall consider the whole as an 
instinctive principle, in which the animal has no power of 
variation, or choice, but such as arises from what may be called 
external necessity. The cell has in common six sides, but 
this is most correct in those first formed ; and their bottom is 
commonly composed of those sides, or planes, two of the sides 
making one; and they generally fall in between the bottoms 
of three cells of the opposite side ; but this is not regular, it is 
only to be found where there is no external interruption. 
I have already observed, that the last formed cells in the 
season are not so well made : that their partitions are thicker, 
and more of a yellow colour : this arises, I imagine, from the 
wax being less pure, having more alloy in it ; and therefore, 
not being so strong, more of it is required. The bees would 
appear to reserve many of their cells for honey, and those are 
mostly at the upper part. In old hives, of several years stand- 
ing, I have found the upper part of the comb free from the 
consequences of having bred, such as the silk lining, and the ex- 
crement of the maggots at the bottom ; while the lower part, 
for probably more than one half of the plane of cells, shewed 
strong marks of having contained many broods of young bees 
