ing a commodious habitation for themselves and 
their future family. To accomplish this necessary 
operation they divide themselves into four bodies, 
one of which is consigned to the fields to collect 
materials for the structure ; the second temper what 
the first bring home, form the outlines of the work, 
and partition off the cells, which are polished 
and completed by the third band; who not only 
adjust the angles, but remove the superfluous wax, 
and give the work its necessary perfection. It be- 
longs to the fourth band to bring provision to the 
labourers, who are too much engaged to leave the 
building and provide for themselves. Those who 
have noticed the operations of these ingenious in- 
sects through a glass hive, describe the manner in 
which the labourers are fed by the attending bee. 
When they are in want of provision, which often 
happens, they express their meaning by signs. The 
labourer who has an appetite, bends down his trunk 
before the caterer, to let him know that he is in- 
clined for food ; upon which the other opens his 
bag of honey, and pours out a few drops, which 
may be distinctly seen rolling through the whole 
length of his trunk, that sensibly swells in every 
part through which the liquor flows. When this 
little repast is over, the labourer again returns to his 
task. 
In describing the formation of the comb, we can- 
not do better than follow the account of Mr. Hun- 
ter, who tells us that “ the cells, or rather the con- 
geries of cells, which compose the comb, may be 
