293 
FOREIGN BEES. 
interior of a hive presents, like that of the humble- 
bee in our own country, a confused and irregular 
appearance. The combs, which have but one series 
of cells, are placed, some in a vertical position, and 
others horizontal — the latter, superior to the other 
in regularity of form, and of distance from one 
another. They are grouped together in an oval 
mass, and occupy nearly half of the internal space, 
while the other half is stored with the honey cups. 
The cells which are destined solely for the rearing 
of the brood are, like ours, hexangular, though the 
angles are not so sharply defined, nor is the mouth 
of the cell strengthened by an additional ring of 
wax. The diameter is the same with that of ours, 
but the depth less by one-fifth. It is singular that 
the young bees are found in the cells with their hindei 
parts directed towards the mouth ; in being hatched, 
they will of course, make their exit through the 
bottom, not having the impediment to encounter 
there which would obstruct the issue of the Eu- 
ropean hee. The honey, os has been stated, is 
deposited in small globular bags, hung round the 
sides of the hive, or placed at the bottom ; some of 
these receptacles are more than 1 £ inch in diameter ; 
and in many instances are so connected together that, 
as in the case of cells of common honey combs, one 
side serves for two cups, thus combining economy 
and strength. And these magazines of honey being 
altogether apart from the brood-combs, and noways 
connected with them, great facility is afforded in 
depriving the bees of their stores. The honey is 
