which they were greatly agitated. They often bent their bodies, and elevated and depressed their heads. These movements were preparatory to the great change which the animals were about to undergo. Between the 7th and 8th of the same month they threw off their skins, and were metamorphosed into nymphs; and on the 30th of July they became perfect insects. In a range of cells, the worms are necessarily of different ages, and of course of different sizes. Those in the lower cells are older than those in the upper; because, after the Bee has filled with paste, and enclosed the first cell, a considerable time is requisite to collect provisions, and to form partitions for every successive and superior cell. The former, therefore, must be transformed into nymphs and flies before the latter. These circumstances would almost appear to be foreseen by the mother; for if the undermost worm, which is the oldest, and soonest transformed, were to force its way upward, which it could easily do, it would not only disturb, but would infallibly destroy all those lodged in the superior cells. But Providence has wisely prevented this devastation; for the head of the nymph, and consequently of the fly, is always placed in a downward direction. Its first instinctive movements must, consequently, be in that direction. That the young Bees may escape from their respective cells, the mother digs a hole at the bottom of the long tube, which makes a communication between the undermost cell and the open air. Sometimes a similar passage made near the middle of the tube. By this contrivance, as all the Bees instinctively endeavour to cut their way downward, they find an easy and convenient passage; for they have only to pierce the floor of their cells in order to make their escape, and this they do with their teeth very readily. is THE HIVE BEE*. In the formation of their combs, the present insects seem to resolve a problem which would not be a little puzzling to some geometricians, namely: "A quantity of wax being given, to make of it equal and similar cells of a determined capacity, but of the largest size in proportion to the quantity of matter employed, and disposed in such a manner as to occupy in the hive the least possible space." Every part of this problem is completely executed by the Bees. By applying hexagonal cells to the sides of each other, no void spaces are left between them; and, though the same end may be accomplished by other figures, yet such would necessarily require a greater quantity of wax than these. Besides, hexagonal cells are best fitted to receive the cylindrical bodies of the larvæ. A comb consists of two strata of cells, applied to each other's ends. This arrangement both saves room in the hive, and gives a double entry into the cells of which the comb is composed. As a further saving of wax, and for preventing void spaces, the bases of the cells in one stratum of a comb, serve also for bases to the opposite stratum. In short, the more minutely the construction is examined, the more will the admiration of the observer be excited. The walls of the cells are so extremely thin, that their mouths might be thought in danger of suffering by the frequent entering and issuing of the Bees. To prevent this, the Bees make a kind of rim round the margin of each cell, and this rim is three or four times thicker than the walls. It is difficult to perceive, even with the assistance of * See Plate xix. Queen-bee, Fig. 9. Male, Fig. 10. Female, Fig. 11. SYNONYMS. Apis mellifica. Linn.-Honey-bee, in various parts of the country. The males are called Drones, and the female the Queen-bee. The neuters are called Working-bees.L'Abeille à miel, in France. which the their bod These mc which th the 7th a skins, an the 30th In a ferent a the low cause, the fir provis and trans The seer is t wa dis th VI When extremely hurted the New CELL, DIE leave then cheries: they have begun a number sufficient to the present, extends When a Bee puts its neat a little way muc a celi, ve easily perceive it, with the poms of is teeth, scraping the walls, in order to detact such sees ant meguir fragments, as may have been lef. n the WOTS. O these fragments the Bee forms a bal., ahour, the size of a pin's head. It issues from the cel, and carries tis Wax to another part of the work, where 1. is wanted: I no sooner leaves the cell than it is succeeded by another Bee, which performs a similar office: and it this malner the work is successively carried on, til the cel is completely polished. Their mode of working, and the disposition and division of their labour, when put into an empty hive, are very wonderful. They immediately begin to lay the foundations of their combs. This is an operation, which they execute with surprising quickness and alaerity. Soon after they have begun to construct one comb, they divide into two or three companies, each of similar operations. By this division of labour, a great which, in different parts of the hive, is occupied in .ber of Bees have an opportunity of being employed e same time, and, consequently, the common work Looner finished. The combs are generally arranged direction parallel to each other. An interval or et between them is always left, that the Bees may e a free passage, and an easy communication with different combs in the hive. These streets are just le enough to allow two Bees to pass one another. sides these parallel streets, the Bees, to shorten their rney when working, leave several cross passages, ich are always covered. They are extremely solicitous to prevent insects of ny kind from getting admittance into their hives. To ccomplish this purpose, and to shut out the cold, they arefully examine every part of their hive; and if they iscover any holes or chinks, they immediately paste hem firmly up with a resinous substance, which differs considerably from wax. This substance was known to the ancients by the name of propolis, or bee-glue. Bees use the propolis for rendering their hives more close and perfect, in preference to wax, because it is. more durable, and because it more powerfully resists the vicissitudes of weather than that. This glue is not, like the wax, formed by an animal process. The Bees collect it from different trees, such as the poplar, birch, and willow. It is a complete production of nature, and requires no additional manufacture from the animals by which it is employed. After a Bee has procured a quantity sufficient to fill the cavities of its two hindlegs, it repairs to the hive. Two of its companions instantly draw out the propolis, and apply it to fill up such chinks, holes, or other deficiencies, as they find in their habitation. But this is not the only use to which Bees apply the propolis. They are extremely solicitous to remove such insects or foreign bodies, as happen to get admission into the hive. When these are so light as not to exceed their powers, they first kill the insect with their stings, and then drag it out with their teeth. But it sometimes happens, that an ill-fated 7 glass hives, the manner in which Bees operate when Their mode of working, and the disposition and division of their labour, when put into an empty hive, are very wonderful. They immediately begin to lay the foundations of their combs. This is an operation, which they execute with surprising quickness and alacrity. Soon after they have begun to construct one comb, they divide into two or three companies, each of which, in different parts of the hive, is occupied in similar operations. By this division of labour, a great |