_ NATURAL HISTORY. ‘gt 
Tf we examine their.cells, they will be found formed in the exactelh 
Proportion. It was faid by Pappus, an ancient geometrician, that, of 
all other figures, hexagons were the moft convenient ; for, when placed 
touching each other, the moft convenient room would. be given, and 
the fmalleft loft. The cells of the bees are perfect hexagons : hele, in 
every honeycomb,’ are double, opening on either fide, and clofed at 
the bottom. The bottoms are compofed of little triangular panes, 
Which, when. united together, terminate in a point, and lic exadtly 
Upon the extremities of other panes of the fame fhape, in oppofite cells. 
hefe lodgings have {paces, like Rreets, between them, large enough 
to give the bees a-free paflage in and out; and yet narrow enough to 
Preferve the neceHary heat. The mouth of every cell is defended by a 
border, which makes the door a little lefs than the infide of the cell, 
Which ferves to ftrengthen the whole. Thefe cells ferve for different 
Purpofes: for laying up their youngs for their wax, which in winter | 
ecomes a part of their food; and tor their honey, which makes their 
‘Principal fubfiftence. 
It is well known that the habitation of bees ought to be very clofes 
and what their hives want, from the negligence or unfkilfulnefs 6f man, 
thefe animals fupply by their own indultry: fo that it is their principal 
fare, when firft hived, to ftop up all the crannies. For this purpofe 
ey make ufe of a refinous gum, which is more tenacious than wax, 
and differs greatly from it. ‘his the ancients called Propolis: it will 
Brow confiderably hard in June; though it will'in fome meatfure fof-— 
ten by heat; and is often found different in confiftence, colour, and 
mel]. It has generally an agreeable aromatic odour when it is warm- 
ed; and by fome it is confidered as a moft grateful perfume. When the 
Sees begin to work with it, it is foft, but it acquires a firmer confiftence 
Every day ; till at length it aflumes a brown colour, and becomes much 
arder than wax. The bees carry it on their hinder legs; and lome 
think it is met with on the birch, the willow, and poplar. . However 
Atis procured, it is certain that they plailter the inlide of their hives 
With this compofition, ® ; : 
_ If examined through a glafs hive, from the hurry the whole fwarm 
as in, the whole at firft appears like anarchy and confufion: but the 
Petator foon finds every animal diligently employed, and following 
One purfuit with a fettled purpofe. Their teeth are the inftruments by 
Which they model and fathion their various buildings, and give them 
fuch fymmetry and perfeétion. They begin at the top of the hive 5 
and feveral of them work at a time, at the cells which have two faces. 
they are ftinted with regard to time, they give the new cells but half. 
the depth which they ought to have; leaving them imperfeét, till they 
ave fetched out the number of cells neceflary for the prefent occalion. | 
he confrudtion of their combs, coft them a great deal of labour: they 
@re ‘made by infenfible additions; and not calt at once in a mould, as 
‘Ome are apt to imagine. There feems no end of their thaping, fnifh- 
Ing, and turning them neatly up. The cells for their young are moft 
Sarefully formed; thofe defigned for lodging the drones, are larger 
than the reft; and that for the queen-bee, the largeit of all. The cells 
*0 which the young brood are lodged, ferve at different times for con- 
ining honey ; and this proceeds from an obvious caufe: every worm, 
Store it is transformed into an — hangs its old {kin on the par- 
: 2 = 
titions 
SS 
