BEE PASTURAGE. 
109 
bing them together is made for a half minute, when 
they are withdrawn, and the two little loaves of bread 
may be seen at the bottom. This bee appears to take 
no farther care about them, but another will soon come 
along, and enter the cell head first, and pack it close ; 
this cell is filled about two-thirds of its length in this 
way, and when sealed over a little honey is used to fill 
it out. 
PHILOSOPHY IN FILLING A CELL WITH HONEY. 
To witness the operation of depositing honey, a glass 
hive or box is requisite ; the edges of the combs will 
be attached to the glass — when honey is abundant, 
most of these cells next the glass will contain some. 
Now is the time to see the operation, glass forming one 
side of such as are in contact, &c. The bee may be seen 
to enter the cell till it reaches the bottom ; with its 
tongue, the first particle is deposited, and brushed into 
the corners or angles, carefully excluding all the air 
from behind it — as it is filled, that next the sides of the 
cell is kept in advance of the centre. The bee does 
not put its tongue in the centre and pour out its load 
there, but carefully brushes the sides as it fills, exclud- 
ing every particle of air, and keeps the surface concave 
instead of convex. This is just as a philosopher would 
say it should be. If it was filled at once and no care 
taken to attach it to the sides, why, the external air 
would never keep it there, which it does effectually 
when of ordinary length. When the cell is about one- 
fourtl: of an injh deep they often commence filling it, 
and as it is lengthened they add to it, keeping it within 
