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

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ORIGIN OF WAX.
Before proceeding to the second experi
ment, which was to consist in prolonging
their captivity, we took care to remove alj
the combs they had formed in that preced¬
ing. Burnens made them return to the
hive, and confined them again with a new
portion of honey. The experiment was not
tedious. From the evening of the subse¬
quent day we observed them working iil|
wax anew; and on examining the hive on
the third day, we actually found five combs
as regular as those they had made during
their first imprisonment.
The combs were removed five times succes¬
sively, but always under precaution of the
escape of the bees from the apartment being
prevented; and during this long interval,
the same insects were preserved and fed with
honey exclusively. Undoubtedly, the ex¬
periment, had we deemed it necessary, might
have been prolonged with equal success.
On each occasion that we supplied them
with honey they produced new combs, which
puts it beyond dispute that this substance
effected the secretion of wax in their bodies,
without the aid of pollen. As the reverse of
the preceding experiment would prove whe¬
ther the pollen itself had the same property,