ARRANGEMENT OF THE CELLS. 
61 
few drops ; these can be seen distinctly as they 
roll along the tube-like proboscis, swelling its 
size as they pass. 
The first cell determines the position of all 
that succeed it ; and, in ordinary circumstances, 
two are not commenced in different parts of 
the hive at the same time. When a few rows 
have been constructed in the central comb, two 
other foundation walls are begun, one on each 
side, parallel with it, and at the distance of a 
third of an inch. Thus street by street is added 
to the little city, forming highways of travel for 
the bees. The combs are also pierced with holes 
to allow of inter-communication, and thus pre- 
vent loss of time in going round by the regular 
streets. 
The cells, the open ends of which are shown 
on page 50 , are joined at their bases to the 
bases of similar cells opening from the opposite 
side. These sets of double cells constitute the 
“ comb,” familiarly so called, and vary from one 
to two inches in thickness, thus making each 
cell from half an inch to an inch in depth. The 
bottom of a cell has the shape of a flattened 
