h some of
the royal food.

As the figure of hives has much influence on the respective disposition
of the combs, it would be a satisfactory experiment, greatly to
diversify their shape and internal dimensions. Nothing could be better
adopted to instruct us how bees can regulate their labours, and apply
them to existing circumstances. This may enable us to discover
particular facts which we cannot foresee.

The royal eggs and those producing drones, have not yet been carefully
compared with the eggs from which workers come. But they ought to be so,
that we may ascertain whether these different eggs have secret
distinctive characteristics.

The food supplied by the workers to the royal worm, is not the same with
that given to the common worm. Could we not endeavour, with the point of
a pencil, to remove a little of the royal food, and give it to a common
worm deposited in a cell of the largest dimensions? I have seen common
cells hanging almost vertically, where the queen had laid; and these I
should prefer for this experiment.

Various facts, which require corroboration, were collected in my Memoirs
on Bees; of this number are my own observations. You can select what is
proper, my dear Sir. You have already enriched the history of bees so
much, that every thing may be expected from your understanding and
perseverance. You know the sentiments with which you have inspired the
CONTEMPLATOR OF NATURE. _Genthod, 18. August 1789._

FOOTNOTES:

{A} All these letters are addressed to the celebrated naturalist M.
Bonnet.--_T._

{B} The leaf or book hive consists of twelve vertical frames or boxes,
parallel to each other, and joined together. Fig. 1. the sides, f f. f
g. should be twelve inches long, and the cross spars, f f. g g. nine or
ten; the thickness of these spars an inch, and their breadth fifteen
lines. It is necessary that this last measure should be accurate; a a. a
piece of comb which guides the bees in their work; d. a moveable slider
supporting the lower part; b b. pegs to keep the comb properly in the
frame or box; four are in the opposite side; e e. pegs in the sides
under the moveable slider to support it.

A book hive, consisting of twelve frames, all numbered, is represented
fig. 2. Between 6 and 7 are two cases with lids, that divide the hive
into two equal parts, and should only be used to separate the bees for
forming an artificial swarm; a a. two frames which shut up the two sides
of the hive,