A treasury of natural history; or, a popular dictionary of animated nature ... To which are added, a syllabus of practical taxidermy, etc / [Samuel Maunder].

  • Samuel Maunder
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treasury of natural history; or, a popular dictionary of animated nature ... To which are added, a syllabus of practical taxidermy, etc / [Samuel Maunder]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    angles already formed. The mass of wax prepared by the assistants is applied by the foundress-bee to the roof or »bottom of the hive, and thus a slightly double convex mass is formed: when of sufficient size, a cell is sculptured on one side of it by the bees, who relieve one another in the laboiu. At the back, and on each side of this first cell, two others are sketched out and excavated: by this proceeding the foundations of two cells are laid, the line beUvixt tliem cor- responding with the centre of the opposite cells : as the comb extends, the first exca- vations are rendered deeper and broader ; and when a iiyramidal base is finished, the bees build up walls from its edges, so as to complete what may be called the prismatic part of the cell. The cells intended for tlie drones are considerably larger and more sub- stantial than those for the workers ; and being formed subsequently, they usually ap- pear nearer the bottom of the combs: last of all are built the royal cells for the queens: of these there are usually three or four, sometimes ten or twelve, in a hive, attached completely to the central part, but not un- frcquently to the edge of the comb. The form of the royal cells is an oblong spheroid, tapering gradually downwards, and having the exterior full of holes: the mouth of tlie cell, which is always at the bottom, remains open until the maggot is ready for trans- formation, and it is then closed like the rest. “ AVhen a queen has emerged, the cell in wliich she was reared is destroyed, and its place is supplied by a range of common cells: the site of this range may always be traced by that part of the comb being thicker than the rest, and forming a kind of knot. The common breeding cells of drones and workers are occasionally made the depositories of lioney; but the cells are never sufficiently cleansed to preserve the honey undeterio- rated. The finest lioney is stored in new cells constructed for the purpose of receiving it, their form precisely resembling that of the common breeding cells: these honey- cells vary in size, being larger or smaller according to the productiveness of the sources from wliioh the bees are collecting, and ac- cording to the season.” It is remarkabie that all animals which have been long under the protection of man seem to lose a part of their natural sagacity. In those countries wlicre the bees are wild, and unprotected by man, they are always sure to build their waxen cells in the hol- lows of trees ; but with us they appear im- provident in their choice : and the first green branch which slops their flight is deemed snilicicnt for their abode. It docs not even appear that the queen chooses the place where they are to alight; for numbers of Oie swarms when they conceive a predilection for any particular branch, spontaneously settle on it ; others follow their example ; and at last the queen herself, flnding the majority of the swarm convened together, condescends to place herself amongst them. The queen being settled, the rest of the swann soon flock around licr, and in about a (inartcr of an hour the whole body seems to be perfectly at rest. When a hive sends out several swarms in a j'ear, the first is always the best as well as the most numerous; for, having the greatest part of the summer before them, they have the more time for making wax and honey, and consequently their labours are the most ] valuable to their proprietor. Though the swarm is principally mode up of the younger Bees, those of all ages generally compose the ; numiier of emigrants ; and as a single hive sometimes contains upwards of forty thou- • sand inhabitants, such a vast body may well i be supposed to work with great expedition. | Among the varied mass of amusing and , instructive information with which the volumes of Kirby and Spence abound, we ' shall make a few condensed extracts ere we i close this article : — Bees in their excursions ' do not confine themselves to the spot im- j mediately contiguous to their dweliing, ' but, when led by the scent of honey, will go ' a mile from it, or considerably more ; yet from this distance they will discover honey i with as much certainty os if it was within their sight. * * * A new-born bee, as soon as it is able to use its wings, seems perfectly aware, without any preidous instruction, what are to be its duties and employments for the rest of its life. It appears to know that it is bom for society, and not for selfish pursuits; and therefore it invariably de- j votes itself and its labours to the benefit of , the community to which it belongs. • Walk- ! ing upon the combs, it seeks for the door of the liive, that it may sally forth and be useful. Full of life and activity, it then takes its first fiight; and, unconducted but by its in- stinct, visits like the rest the subjects of Flmn, absorbs their nectar, covers itself with their ambrosial dust, which it kneads into a moss and packs upon its hind legs; and, if need be, gathers propolis (an unctuous resinous substanee, collected from the buds of trees, and used in lining the cells of a new comb, stopping creidccs, &c.j, and returns unem- barrassed to its OMTi liive. The method of ventilating their hives is thus described : — By means of their mar- ginal hooks, they unite each pair of wings into one plane slightly concave, thus acting upon the air by a surface nearly as large ns possible, and forming for them a pair of verj- ample fans, which in their vibrations de- scribe an arch of 90°. These vibrations are so rapid ns to render the vings almost in- visible. During the summer a certain number of workers—for it is to the workers solely that this office is committed — may always be observed vibrating tlieir win^ Ixjfore the entrance of their liive ; and the observant apiarist will find, ui>on examina- tion, that a still greater number arc engaged within it in the same employment. The station of these ventilators is upon the floor of the hive. They arc usually raaced in files that terminate at the entrance ; and sometimes,but not constantly,form so many diverging rays, probably to give room for comers and goers to pa.ss. The number of ventilators in action at the same time varies : | it seldom much exceeds twenty, and is often 1 more circninscrilicd. The tunc also that ; they devote to this function is longer or j
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