HYMENOPTERA. 323 
is easy to perceive the little plates of wax by slightly raising the 
last rings of the bee’s abdomen. Fig. 315 represents a bee very 
heavily laden with this matter. 
The working bees suspend themselves from the roof of the 



Fig. 316.—Clusters of Bees. 
jhive in such a manner as to form, with the wax which they 
‘secrete, festoons. The first clings to the roof with his front 
legs, the second hooks himself on to the hind-legs of the first, 
jand so on, as is shown in Fig. 316. They in this manner form 
‘chains, fixed by the two ends to the roof, which serve as a 
| bridge or ladder to the bees which join this assembly. 
| The result of all this is at last a cluster or swarm of bees 
which hangs down to the bottom of the hive. In this attitude 
they remain at first motionless, waiting till the honey in their 
stomachs is changed into wax. When the wax is sufficiently 
elaborated in its organs, one of them detaches itself from the group 
v2 

