102 
ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 
On tbeir return, those bees which have been occu- 
pied in collecting honey, cluster closely together at 
the top of the hive, and, suspended from each other 
by their hooked claws, form a variety of fantastical 
and often graceful figures, festoons, curtains, ladders, 
&c., crossing each other in all directions, (PI. V.), 
and seem sunk in a profound inactivity, which con- 
tinues about twenty-four hours. The inactivity, how- 
ever, is only apparent. The time which they pass 
in tins seeming repose is doubtless necessary for the 
elaboration of the honey, and the transfusion of tho 
saccharine part in the form of wax. But in the 
centre of the mass, one worker has left its fellows, 
and laid the foundation of the future structure ; it is 
succeeded by several others, each of whom, singly 
and separately, contributes its quantum of material 
and skill to the rising edifice, while succeeding bands 
of nurse-bees busy themselves in finishing and polish- 
ing the work, which the wax-workers have only 
rough hewn. For it is to be observed, that in the 
construction of the combs, the two classes of wax- 
workers and nurse-bees have their separate and dis- 
tinct provinces. That of the former is to supply the 
rough materials, and attach them coarsely together ; 
and that of the latter to finish and perfect the edifice. 
And while these last are occupied hi this more re- 
fined operation of finishing and polishing, the former, 
.like industrious labourers, are continually bringing 
forward additional loads of materials. One comb is 
scarcely begun, or contains not more than two or 
three rows of cells, when the busy architects proceed 
