410 
BEE. 
the bees may begin to work at one end, and can 
work both down and towards the other end, we 
often find the larger cells both on the lower part of 
the combs and also at the opposite end. These 
are formed for the males to be bred in ; and in the 
hornets’ and wasps’ combs, there are larger cells for 
the queens to be bred in : these are also formed in 
the lower tier, and the last formed. 
The first comb made in a hive is all of one co- 
lour, viz. almost white; but is not so white towards 
the end of the season, having then more of a yellow 
cast.” 
There are some cells much larger, and having a 
wider mouth than others ; these are the royal cells, 
and Mr. Hunter has observed as many as eleven in 
the same hive. They are mostly formed on the 
edge of the comb, and are made of softer wax than 
the others ; they are likewise of an inferior quality, 
not above one-third of wax entering into their com- 
position, the rest, according to the opinion of Mr. 
Hunter, being farina. 
As soon as a few combs are formed the female 
bee begins to lay her eggs ; and this duty it appears 
is confined to the queen, notwithstanding the as- 
sertion of Riem, that the labourers occasionally per- 
form this office. The first eggs in the season are 
those which produce labourers, the next males, and 
afterwards probably the queen : this is the progress 
in the nest of the wasp, hornet, humble bee, &c. 
The eggs are laid by the queen at the bottom of 
the cell, and she regularly proceeds from chamber 
