THE HONEY-BEE. 
103 
to lay the foundations of two others, one on each side 
of that already founded, continuing their operations in 
this manner, till they have taken in the whole range 
of their building ground ; and, with such diligence do 
they ply their labours, that in one day, during the 
height of the honey-season, they will construct no 
fewer than 4000 cells. A comb measures in thick- 
ness, generally speaking, one inch, and the interval 
between them is about one third of an inch, affording 
a passage for two bees, back to back, without ob- 
struction or inconvenience. These dimensions, how- 
ever, are varied according to circumstances. Towards 
the top of the hive, (PI. YI. fig. 1, a, «,) where the 
honey magazines are situated, the cells are deepened, 
consequently the thickness of the comb is increased, 
and the road-way contracted. This is no inconve- 
nience to the bees, for, after the honey-cells are sealed, 
they have seldom occasion to visit that quarter of the 
hive, and can, therefore, put up with less room. 
When the breeding season returns, however, these 
cells are all reduced to their original size, if emptied 
of their contents, and thus fitted for the reception 
of brood. The combs, attached os they are to the 
roof of the hive, descend vertically. Unlike human 
builders, they begin their work at the top or ceiling, 
and suspend their structures from above. This is 
their usual mode of proceeding, but circumstances 
induce them sometimes to vary it. The following 
is an instance from our personal observation : We 
put a swarm into our experimental hive, which is so 
thin, as to admit of one comb only being constructed. 
