» Of the Bees Works, &e. - 103 
_ The combs are alfo (generally) placed at equal~ dif- 
tances, there being only room for two Bees to pals a- 
breaft, without any needlefs empty fpace. Wax is one 
of their chicfeft manufactures, and abfolutely neceflary ! 
to treafure up their honey, and for brood. But here I 
find feveral of our modern writers far from truth in their 
reports, | 
Mr. Bradley tells Us, that from the flowers they ga- 
ther the wax with the hairs, which cover their Bodics ; 
and when they return from the fields, you may fee their 
hairs full of {mall particles of wax like duft. When 
they are got into the hive, and give notice to their com- 
panions, three or four of them come and take each a 
{mall quantity of the wax, with their jaws, till no more 
remains, when they return into the fields for a new har- 
veft. Or elfe the laden Bee finds out acell, where 
there is neither honey, nor worm, and there leaves thofe 
bodies of wax. 
He likewife adds, as one Bee goes, another comes, 
to temper the wax till the hive is almoft full of this fort, 
placed fometimes in lays of divers colours, as white, yel- 
low, red and brown, according to the flowers or leaves 
from which they gather it. And in feveral parts of the 
hive, a great number of cells are found full of this wax, 
which are as magazines, to which they have recourfe 
upon occafion. Finally, the wax in the cells, which at 
firft is of different colours, is always white immediately 
after the honey-combs are built.* How has this author 
in. this account betrayed his great ignorance, and abufed 
is reader? G4 That 
* Bradley Po 239) 2430 ' 
