116 
WAX. 
duction. From experiments of my own, I am satisfied 
that he is correct. The experiment is tried by shut- 
ting up a swarm when first hived ; feeding them with 
honey — a few of the bees will probably have some 
pollen, though not enough to make a comb three 
inches square, yet it is something — and to be certain, 
time must be given them to exhaust it. In three or 
four days take out the bees and remove the combs ; 
inclose them again, and feed with honey as before. 
Repeat the process, until satisfied that no pollen is 
needed in the composition of wax. Iluber removed 
the combs “five times,” with the same result at every 
trial. Whenever bees are confined in hot weather, air 
and water are absolutely necessary. 
We will now describe the first appearance of wax, 
and how it is produced. When a swarm of bees is 
about leaving the parent stock, three-fourths or more 
of them will fill their sacks with honey. When located 
in their new home, of course no cells exist to hold it ; 
it must remain in the stomach or sack for several 
hours. The consequence is, that thin white scales of 
wax the sixteenth of an inch in diameter, somewhat 
circular, are formed between the rings of the abdomen, 
under side. With the claws of one of their hind legs 
one of these is detached and conveyed to the mouth, 
and there pinched with their forceps or teeth, until 
one edge is worked somewhat rough ; it is then ap- 
plied to the comb being constructed, or to the roof of 
the hive. The first rudiments of comb are often applied 
within the first half hour after the swarm is hived. 
In the history of insects before noticed, is a minute 
