BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
Of the three pieces which compose the base of the cells of the first row, on one side which we shall call the _anterior_ side, only one of them was in the shape of a rhomb; the other two were irregular quadrilaterals, or trapezes. These, hanging (a, b, fig. 6) from the ceiling by their short side, descended perpendicularly; their vertical edges were parallel; but one was shorter than the other; it is by this one that the two quadrangles were joined together in an obtuse angle; the fourth edge, the lower one of these pieces, was oblique; and it was between the oblique edges of these trapezes that the rhomb was fastened which forms the bottom of the cavity. It is easy to understand the cause of its inclination, since the top of one of its obtuse angles was below the joint of the two trapezes; and its sharp angles at the lower extremity of the large edges of these trapezes, and consequently a little lower. Thus the rhomb is slanting or inclined as are the lower edges of the trapezes (fig. 8).
On the opposite side of the comb, the bases of the cells of the same row are composed of only two trapezes (fig. 9) similar to those that form a part of the base of the cells just described, only they appear turned differently, for they are joined to the base of the cell by their greater sides: they make, with each other, an angle exactly equal to that which unites the trapezes of the anterior face; but these two pieces do not belong to a single cell of the anterior face, they form the back of two neighboring cells: so the cells of this face can only correspond in their base to two opposite cells. On the contrary, those of the anterior face having one more piece, must correspond with three cells (fig. 14 and 15); the rhomb \(c\) which they show fills the space between two cells of the posterior face, and is the first piece of the cells of the second row, which are themselves composed of three rhombs.
Through these simple arrangements the stability of the comb is assured, for it reaches the ceiling of the hive in the greatest possible number of points.
We see another aim in this arrangement through the influence of the composition of the first row upon the formation of cells with pyramidal bases; but we will mention it in a few words only, referring those who desire to exhaust the subject to the notes which follow this chapter.
The rhomb situated at the base of the cells of the first row, on the anterior face, having a determined inclination because of its position at the base of the trapezes whose obliquity it follows, and this rhomb belonging on the opposite face to the pyramidal base, its inclination is partly indicated, for if we add two similar pieces below the rhomb, when joined together they will have a similar inclination and will form a pyramidal base on the posterior face.
Regarding the pyramidal bases of the anterior face, they will have their origin in the same pieces on the opposite side, of which they are the reverse; thus all the properties of the pyramidal bases appear to be derived from the structure of the cells of the first row.
EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES, PLATE V
Figure 1 is that of an ordinary cell, resting upon its base and seen in perspective. Its tube (ae) rises above the pyramidal base bed; one must notice the angular edges of the base and realize why the tube is composed of irregular quadrangles.
In figure 2, we see the bottom of a cell, front view. It is backed by three other cells, a, b, c, whose bases are seen from the rear.
Figure 3 is that of two pyramidal bases; (ab) is a line which they touch in only one spot.
Figure 4 is a piece of new comb, fixed to the ceiling of the hive.
Figure 5 represents the same comb shown from the opposite side; in each of them the tubes of the cells have been removed, with only a small edge left to distinguish their contour. The bases of the first cells, immediately below the ceiling are those which I call cells of the first row.
Figure 4 represents the edge or orifice of a cell of the first row.
Figure 6 shows the base of an anterior cell of the first row, detached from the comb; (ab) its trapezes (c) the rhomb which terminates it. In figure 9 we see the base of the posterior cell of the first row, formed of only two trapezes. In Figure 9 we see the same pieces, but on their opposite face and in the same position as they are in figure 13 (ab). As these are drawn in perspective, which alters the appearance of their pieces to a certain extent, owing to the recess of the cells, they are shown flat and separate in figures 7 and 10, under braces which indicate their union; we thus see their geometric shape.
Figure 8 is intended to exhibit the projection of the rhomb, projecting beyond a line (a, b) drawn from one of its acute angles to another; the part (acb) projects beyond the cavity, while the part (adb) is within it: so the rhomb projects in exactly half of its length; it slopes in the direction of its short diagonal, but is horizontal in its long diagonal.
Figure 11 gives a front view of the cells of the first row with their enlarged tube in perspective, able being the base.
Figures 12 and 13 show the bases of three cells which would be back to back; figure 13 showing two anterior cells and figure 12 a posterior cell fitted between these two, b being the back of b, and a the back of a. See fig. 9*.
Figures 14 and 15 are the inverse of one another; the first shows a base of the first row; with the back of three cells that meet it on the opposite side; two of the first row (f, a and g, b) and one of the second row (c, e, d); we make sure of this by looking at figure 15, in which the three posterior cells (g, b) (f, a) and (c, d, e) shown facing, are backed to the anterior cell of the first row (b, a, c), shown here from the rear, the piece (c), which is opposite the rhomb (c) of the anterior cell, becomes here the upper piece of the pyramidal base (d, c, e), formed below the cells (g, b) and (a, f) figure 15.
Figures 16 and 17 are also the opposite of each other placed on the same
## Continuation of architecture of BES.
line so that we may understand the manner in which the cells are joined. The first represents a small piece of the comb composed of two anterior cells of the first row and one anterior cell of the second row. The second shows one posterior cell of the first row and two posterior cells of the second row. We notice here that the pyramidal base of the anterior face, figure 16, is composed of two rhombs situated in the interval between the cells of the first row, but the two pieces (eo) are the same as (eo) figure 17, which belong to two cells of the posterior face; lastly, the rhomb (a) completing the cell of figure 16, belongs on the opposite side to the space between two cells, or to a cell of the third row. Figures 18 and 19, which represent two small pieces of comb without any shading, give us opportunity to compare each piece of the bases of the cells on both sides.
## Explanation of the figures of plate VI.
The figures of this plate are on a larger scale than on the previous one. The first represents a very small portion of comb, shown as if the prisms were transparent, so as to exhibit the connecting wall in which the bases of both sides are built. These prisms are delineated only in their edges and their orifices. As they are shown here in their entire length, the midribs of the bases appear a little short: the eye is supposed to be in a position to see both the bases and the orifices. As figure 1, we see two cell bases of the first row, beneath which a pyra-midal base is displayed. The adjacent pieces to this cell have been retained, so that those of the posterior plan may be full; thus we see in this figure the back of four posterior cells, one in the first row, two in the second, and one in the third: this figure corresponds with figure 16 of Plate V, where the bases of these cells are seen in front view. Horizontal lines have been drawn from all the angles of the contour of these bases; by their union they represent the prismatic tubes the openings of which are seen at the other extremity; the lines emerging from the posterior angles represent those of the cells on that side. Figure 2 represents the same piece of comb inverted so that we may see obliquely the bases of the cells of the posterior side; it corresponds to figure 17 of Plate V, which shows the bases of similar cells in front view; (We see here, facing us, the bases of the cells which we saw in the rear in figure 1; the bases of the cells on the anterior side show only their back. Glancing at the orifices of those cells, we are impressed by the difference between those of the first row and those of the lower rows; by following the lines from the mouth of the cells inward, we reach the angles of the bases which belong to those same cells. Figure 3 represents in profile the intermediary wall; it is shown here on its interior face, we may notice the angular shape of the contours of all the bases of which it is formed. The side walls are lengthened to the orifice; four cells are represented, two of the first row and two of the second row, so that their position be better grasped. We see, by this figure, that the walls situated on the vertical edges of
But it was still more surprising to see about half of this numerous population taking no part in the labor and remaining motionless while others fulfilled the functions which appeared to be required of them.
You will understand that the wax workers, in a state of absolute repose, recalled our former observations. Gorged with the honey that we had put within their reach, at the end of 24 hours of complete inaction they secreted this substance so long believed to have been gathered upon the anchors of flowers. The wax, wholly formed under their rings was ready to be put to use, and with great satisfaction we saw a little block rising upon one of the laths that we had prepared to serve as base for their new constructions. In this regard, those insects fulfilled our anticipations and as the cluster was established between the combs and below the laths, there was no obstacle through its bulk to the progress of our observations.
Upon this occasion we witnessed for the second time the work of the founding bee and the successive labors of several wax workers to erect the block upon which we were building our hopes.
When the material was thus prepared, these architects gave us the most complete display of the art with which nature has endowed them. Would that my readers could share the interest which this sight inspired; but it is difficult to form a correct idea of it, unless one follows step by step the work of the bees while comparing with the greatest care the text and the figures.
Although I aimed to simplify this part of the work as much as possible, I realize that it may be unintelligible to a great many readers; but I feel certain that the true lovers of natural history will not allow the difficulty of the subject to discourage them and will find compensations in the novelty of the observations. But in order to help relieve from mind fatigue those who do not care to deeply study the matter I will prelude with a slight sketch. (See the figures of natural size Plate VIIA. We should bear in mind that the block rises perpendicularly above the lath, and that it is thus in the position in which we see it when we hold the book vertically).
It was in this block (of wax), at first very small, but successively enlarged, as the work of the bees progressed, that the bases of the first cells were carved.
We understood from the first moment why they were intertwined; the bees built, before our eyes, this first row, which gives the key to all their architecture.
They imperfectly carved a small cavity of the width of an ordinary cell, on one side of the block (PI. VII A, fig. 1); it formed a sort of fluting the edges of which were made to project by the accumulation of wax. On the reverse side of this cavity, opposite, two others, contiguous and equal, (fig. 2) were made, similar to the first but a little shorter. These three cavities,
## Continuation of architecture of bees.
of like diameter, were partly backed against each other, since the center of the one was opposite the edge between the other two.
The first of these cavities, being longer, corresponded on the other side with a still unneut portion of the block, above the cavities of the first row, and it was in this spot that the outline of the first pyramidal base was begun (fig. 2).
Thus a single fluting, on the anterior face, corresponded with three cavities on the opposite side, two of them on the first row and one on the second.
The raised edge of these flutings having been converted by the bees into two rectilinear prominences, which together formed an obtuse angle, each of the cavities of the first row became pentagonal, if we consider the lath as one side (fig. 3 and 4). But the fluting of the second row, the base of which was situated between the oblique faces of the bases of the first row, became hexagonal, two sides being in its base, two parallel and lateral, and two oblique formed upon the raised edges (fig. 4).
The interior conformation of the cavities appeared to be derived naturally from the respective position of their outlines. It seemed that the bees, gifted with an admirable delicacy of feeling, applied their teeth principally where the wax was thickest, that is, in the parts where other workers had accumulated it, while working on the opposite side, which explains why the bottom of the cells is excavated in an angular shape behind the projections upon which the walls of the other corresponding cells are to be erected.
The bases of the cavities were thus divided into several parts which formed an angle, and the number and the shape of these parts depended upon the erection of the bases on the opposite side of the block, dividing the space; so that the largest fluting, opposite three others, was divided in three parts, while on the other side, those of the first row, opposite, were composed of two pieces only.
In consequence of the manner in which the flutings were opposed to each other, those of the second row and all the subsequent ones, partially applied to three cavities, were composed of three equal pieces in rhombold form. A glance at the figures makes it clear. I may here properly remark that each portion of the work of the bees appeared as a natural consequence of the preceding work, so that chance had no part in the admirable results which we witnessed.
I will now return to the thread of these operations, with all the details which were noticed.
DETAILED DESCRIPT OF THE WORK OF THE BEES.
_(See the enlarged figures, beginning at the bottom, Plate VII, B)._
We had reached the long desired moment; at last the bees were about to carve, under our eyes, and it was with some emotion that we saw them give the first chisel strokes upon the block which had just been erected on the lath.
These cavities were of the same diameter and were limited at right and left as with those of the anterior face, by small projecting borders which I call vertical arris, and which will serve as base for the vertical walls of the cells after the bases are carved.
The three outlined cavities did not have the full dimensions in every direction that they were to secure 'when completed; I have already said that they did not have the length of an ordinary cell; I mean the vertical diameter of those cavities (cd, fig. 6); but the block itself was not of a sufficient length to complete the diameter of the cell. So the bees continued to increase its size.
While they were still at work upon the excavations begun by their companions, we saw some wax workers remove scales of wax from their rings and apply them upon the edges so as to lengthen them; they increased its size nearly two lines in every direction (fig. 8).
The small bees which appeared more especially charged with sculpturing the cells were able to continue their outlines; they prolonged the cavities upon the newly added material and lengthened also the edges which bordered them (fig. 9 & 10); but the raised edges were prolonged only at the right and left of the cavities and not at their upper extremity: they were also less prominent as they reached from the base, and we noticed that cavity N\({}^{\circ}\) 1 was much more prolonged than cavities Nos. 2 & 3; otherwise their shape was similar; they were semi-elliptic, slightly lengthened, rounded at the top, arched inside, and had no angular shape; the first was a little longer than the diameter of an ordinary cell; but the others were shorter than this diameter in perceptible amount.
This difference, the aim of which we already perceived, after our observations upon the formation of the cells of the first row, was not an imperfection.
I have said that each of these cavities was round at its upper extremity; the bees soon put edges upon them in this part as they had done on the vertical sides, but they did not purpose to give them an arched edge.
The arch on the border of each of these cavities was divided into two equal ribs, and it was in this direction that the bees erected projecting ridges (fig. 11 & 12); we noticed that they formed an obtuse angle and this appeared equal to those of the rhombs of pyramidal cell bases; we could then conjecture that this angle would be part of a rhomb.
We noticed that the bees accumulated much wax on the upper edge of cavity N\({}^{\circ}\) 1, and it was at the top of this accumulation that the two oblique edges joined. But, on the contrary, the two ridges which terminated the posterior cells at the top were not raised on a projection, but they followed the concavity of the fluting.
(See these bases, facing, in figures 11 and 12, and sidewise in figures 15 and 16; figures 13 and 14 represent the cavities before their upper edge was changed to angular edges, as in figures 9 and 10: figures 15 and 16 show the block at the time when the upper edge is changed into a ridge. In these figures, the rough portion of the block should extend as far as in the others.
At this time, each of the cavities was bordered by four ridges, two of them lateral, perpendicular to the lath, and two shorter ones oblique, joined to the former by one of their extremities and united together at the other extremities: the lath itself bordering them at their base (fig. 11 and 12, 15 and 16).
Now it became more difficult to follow the operations of the bees, because they often interposed their head between the eye of the observer and the bottom of the cell; but we noticed that the partition upon which their teeth worked had become transparent enough to enable us to see through it what passed on the other face; we could thus see very distinctly the end of the teeth of the bee working at carving on the opposite face and follow all her movements. We made this still more perceptible, by placing the hive so that the light would strike more fully upon the cavities which we desired to see outlined.
We saw, as a shadow, the contour of the cells on the opposite face, as the thick ridge did not permit the free passage of daylight and we recognized clearly that the height of the cell bases, N\({}^{\circ}\) 2 and 3 was less than that of cell N\({}^{\circ}\) 1, and that their vertical ridges were shorter (Plate VIII, fig. 17 and 18). The dotted lines here design the shadows of the arris on the opposite face. See the denoting letters.
One perceived, through cavity N\({}^{\circ}\) 1, (cd, fig. 17), the shadow of the vertical ridge which separated cavities N\({}^{\circ}\) 2 and 3, but as the ridge forming this division was between the two shorter cells its shadow did not appear in the full length of cell N\({}^{\circ}\) 1.
This shadow terminated at two-thirds of the length of the anterior cell, starting from the base of the block (c, fig. 17); there it appeared to divide into two branches (cbf) which extended obliquely, one to the right, the other to the left of the center and appeared to terminate immediately behind the upper extremity of the vertical ridges (ab gf) of cavity N\({}^{\circ}\) 1.
These oblique branches of the vertical shadow were none other than those of the oblique ridges (cb cf, fig. 18), making the edges of cavities N\({}^{\circ}\) 2 and 3, in their highest part; the one belonged to the first and the other to the second of these cavities.
Through the portion still in the rough of the mass, one could also see, but less distinctly, the rest of the contours of these same cavities extending to the right and left of the anterior base, designated by N\({}^{\circ}\) 1 (ab, 1h: gf, kl, fig. 17).
It is quite evident that the bases of cells 2 and 3 were partly backed against that of cell N\({}^{\circ}\) 1. They terminated in an obtuse point opposite the
upper extremity of the vertical ridges of this isolated cavity (b, f, fig. 17); from this the result was that the anterior cavity was longer than the other two, with the same proportionate difference that existed between its total length and that of its vertical ridges.
When one examined the block from the opposite side (fig. 18) one could see the shadow of the edges of cavity N\({}^{\circ}\) 1, and this appeared to reach at the top beyond the contour of the cavities N\({}^{\circ}\) 2 and 3.
One perceived at the base of each of the latter cavities the shadow of one of the vertical ridges (ab, gf) which bordered the cavity of the anterior face, shadows which ran from the top to the bottom of the twin cavities of the posterior face, and appeared to divide them into two equal parts. But this was only the result caused by the reciprocal position of the ridges of the two faces.
While following the work of the bees that were busy deepening the cavities which they had outlined, we perceived that the dark lines were gradually replaced by cavities or angular furrows, and that the entire effort of the workers was directed opposite those ridges which we could see as shadows through the thinned block; the bees were digging on both faces behind the ridges of the opposite face.
Thus, those which were working on the anterior face carved in the direction of the shadow of the posterior ridges which exhibited the figure of a Y, the branches of which were directed forward from the main stem (fig. 17). The intermediate ridge formed the stem of the Y, and the two oblique ridges (be, cf) belonging to the posterior cells, represented the two branches of that letter.
The bees were not only working to thin out the back of these projecting ridges, they also scraped and smoothed the space between the shadow of these ridges and the ridges of the cavities upon which they were working.
Their work was directed along the shadow of the vertical ridge (cd) and afterwards in the direction of the oblique shadows (bc, cf) made by the oblique ridges of the opposite cells; when each space was smoothed between the ridges on their side, (ab, be: ef, fg) and the ridges of the posterior face (cb, cd, cf), it produced a cell base such as we have mentioned above, for the first row; it was composed of two trapezes and one rhomb (fig. 19).
This cavity, first shown in a semi-elliptic form (fig. 9, Plate VII) and later bordered with four ridges (fig. 11), being divided in two-thirds of its length by a furrow (dc, fig. 17), which occupied its center, and the two surfaces (abcd: cdfg) adjacent to the furrow having been flattened and thinned down to the depth of the furrow itself, they furnished two planes inclined towards each other; but as this furrow did not reach the full length of the cavity, these planes were limited only by the vertical ridges (ab, gf) of this face and by the supporting lath itself. Their upper extremity, (cf, cb) was not yet finished, or at least it was in the part of the cell not yet smoothed; but the bees, working to shape the furrows (bc, cf, fig. 19), corresponding to the oblique ridges bearing the same letters on the posterior face, gave these inclined planes an oblique termination; and as they were joined on the other three sides with parallel ridges and with the lath, these planes became equal trapezes (ab, cd: cd, fig) and were situated to the right and left of the principal furrow.