50 
Beekeeping 
(Fig. 40). The cells containing pollen are usually not en¬ 
tirely filled and, unless they are also used for the storage of 
honey, as is sometimes the case, the pollen is not covered. 
While the usual conception of the use of the combs includes 
only the uses just mentioned, the cells actually have an im¬ 
portant use as places for adult bees. In winter the bees 
normally form their cluster over cells containing no honey 
and adult bees crawl into the empty cells, filling every one 
within the space 
occupied by the 
cluster. They are 
thus able to form 
a much more com¬ 
pact mass, the out¬ 
side of the cluster 
being essentially a 
solid wall of bees. 
During the active 
season, bees often 
crawl into the 
empty cells, but 
their function dur- 
Fig. 39. — Cappings of brood; the larger cap- time is 
pings are over drone pup®. Natural size. not clear, except 
that by this means 
cells are prepared to receive eggs. It has been suggested 
that many of these bees are “sleeping,” but how one may 
determine this has not been explained. 
Arrangement of the nest. 
There is to be observed in a natural colony a definite and 
virtually constant arrangement of the contents of the combs. 
During the active season, the brood occupies an approxi¬ 
mately spherical space involving several combs at the lower 
part of the center of the comb mass. This space may be 
shifted or restricted by excessive stores of honey. Around 
this, on the sides and above, are cells of pollen and beyond 
