66 
BREEDING. 
esting to witness operations in a glass Live. I Lave 
seen Ler several times during one day, on tlie same 
piece of comb (next tLe glass). The light Las no 
immediate effect on her “Highness,” as she will quietly 
continue about her duty, not the least embarrassed by 
curious eyes at the window. Before depositing an 
egg, she enters the cell head first, probably to ascer- 
tain if it is in proper condition to receive it ; as a cell 
part filled with bee-bread or honey is never used. If 
the area of combs is small, or the family is small, and 
cannot protect a large space with the necessary heat, 
she will often deposit two, and sometimes three, in 
one cell (the supernumeraries I suppose are removed 
by the workers). But under prosperous circumstances, 
with a hive of suitable size, &c., this emergency is 
avoided. 
OPERATION OF LAYING AND THE EGGS DESCRIBED. 
When a cell is in a condition to receive the egg, 
on withdrawing her head she immediately curves 
her abdomen, and inserts it a few seconds. After 
leaving it, an egg may be seen attached by one end 
to the bottom ; about the sixteenth of an inch in 
length, slightly curved, very small, nearly uniform 
the whole length, abruptly rounded at the ends, semi- 
transparent, and covered with a very thin and ex- 
tremely delicate coat, often breaking with the slightest 
touch. 
After the egg has been about three days in the 
cell, a small white worm may be seen coiled in the 
bottom, surro.unded with a milky-like substance, which 
