Lastly there are the honey cells, which are of the same size as the cradle cells, but instead of being built horizontal they are made sloping upwards. By constructing them in this way honey stored in them is prevented from running out over the combs. [Illustration: HONEY CELLS.] The back of the cells, or the dividing wall between the two sets, is not flat, as we might imagine. If you look at the sketches you will see that the cells are fitted into one another so cleverly that the bottom of one cell forms half of the bottoms of two cells of the other side of the comb. All the cells of one sort, say for instance the honey cells, are made exactly the same size, and do not differ by the fraction of an inch. How the bees are able to measure the width when building them is a mystery. Perhaps the antennæ have some important part to play in this matter, but if so it has yet to be discovered. Another thing which is as curious as it is mysterious is how the sculptors on each side of the comb are able to fit in the cells so neatly that each one is in its right place with regard to the cells on the other side of the dividing wall. It is certain that the workers cannot see through the wall of wax, and yet the two lots of cells correspond exactly. CHAPTER XXVI THE LIFE OF THE BEE All the time the cells are being built the queen wanders about the hive in a distracted fashion, because there are no cells ready for her to fill. Now that some are ready, however, her movements change. Surrounded by her councillors, or ladies-in-waiting, as we might call them, she clambers over the comb and selects a cell in which to lay the first egg. She very carefully examines the cell by placing her head in it and feeling the sides with her antennæ. Being satisfied that it is in a fit state to become the cradle of a young bee, she withdraws her head and then the egg is laid. All this time the ladies-in-waiting stand round, and in the season for egg-laying you may quickly pick out the queen by the circle of bees about her (see Plate III.). They guide her over the comb, feed and clean her; sometimes, too, we may see them stroking her very tenderly with their antennæ. After the first egg is deposited in the cell, the queen moves to the next, and so on all through the summer. During this time she lays day and night, and does not appear to sleep. The eggs are little pearly-looking objects something like tiny rice grains, and each one is fastened to its cell by a drop of gummy liquid.