CH. III.] 



THE HIVE BEE. 



47 



contains also narrower passages, by which the com- 

 munication between one cake and another is mate- 

 rially shortened. The honey-comb is placed ver- 

 tically in the hive. Each comb is composed of two 

 layers of six-sided cells, united by their bases. 



If the bee formed its comb like the wasp, having 

 the opening of the cells towards one of its faces, 

 and the base towards the other, it is evident that 

 the number of cells placed in one comb would have 

 formed two combs — and two combs, each contain- 

 ing a single set of cells, would of course take up 

 more room than a single comb, in which the two 

 rows of cells are united base to base. 



The cells are usually placed in a horizontal po- 

 sition, so that their mouths open towards the sides 

 of the hive. The bottom of the cells, instead of 

 forming one flat square, is composed of three 

 lozenge-shaped pieces, so united as to make the 

 cell end in a point; — consequently, the whole is 

 a hexagonal tube, terminating in a pyramidal ca- 

 vity. 



If the two cells had been a single hexagonal tube, 

 intersected in the middle by a flat instead of a pyra- 

 midal division, not only the shape would not have 

 answered the purpose of the bees, but more wax 

 would have been expended in its construction. 



