Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

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ORIGIN OF WAX.
Providing it were the former, we had first I
to verify the opinion of Reaumur, who con¬
jectured that it came from an elaboration |
of pollen in the stomach, though we did not ?
coincide with him, that bees then disgorged 1
it by the mouth. Neither were we disposed |
to adopt his sentiments regarding its origin;
for, like Hunter, it had struck us that swarms |
newly settled in empty hives do not bring
home pollen, notwithstanding they construct
combs, while the bees of old hives, having
no cells to build, gather it abundantly.
We had, therefore, to learn whether bees, L
deprived of pollen for a series of time, would
make wax, and all that this required was con¬
finement.
On the 24th of May we lodged a swarm I
which had just left the parent stock in a
straw hive, with as much honey and water ;
as necessary for the consumption of the I
bees, and closed the entrances so as to pre- '
vent all possibility of escape, leaving ac¬
cess for renewal of the air.
At first the bees were greatly agitated; j
but we succeeded in calming them by carrying
the hive to a cool dark place, where their cap¬
tivity lasted five days. They were then allow¬
ed to take flight in an apartment, the windows