132 Mr. F. Smith on the Construction of 
also without making circular excavations so close to each other 
as to necessitate the transformation into hexagonal cells, but 
which were intended to be cylindrical. 
You were invited, at our last meeting, to arrive at the con- 
clusion that all hexagonal cells were constructed in accordance 
with what is called the circular theory; that cell after cell arose 
from consecutively constructed hemispherical bases. An ex- 
amination of a large number of nests has enabled me to ascertain 
that cells are constructed upon hemispherical, oval, pyramidal 
and also upon plane or flat bases. I have observed that cells are 
built upon bases consecutively formed, and also that the bases of 
entire combs are prepared before a single cell is constructed. 
Examples of each I shall lay before you, and having done so, I 
shall be much interested to have it shown, that all these various 
modes of building are in perfect accordance with the theory pro- 
pounded to this Society at its last meeting. 
Some writers upon the wonders of the hive have endeavoured 
to show that the hexagonal form of cell is, in some degree, neces- 
sitated for reasons that appear to me to have little weight. Saving 
of space is put forth as one! Surely not saving of space simply as 
such, without some collateral bearing, because the bees in a 
natural state are not constrained to occupy any particular-sized 
cavity. Then the saving of wax is supposed to operate, because 
wax is said to be a precious material secreted and elaborated in 
the stomach of the bee; and also in consequence of its being 
produced only by a certain class of working bees; but we must 
not lose sight of the fact, that hexagonal cells are not all built 
of wax; the scrapings of plants or of wood, used by many 
species of wasps, are not a scarce material; neither can mud, 
which is used by others, be said to be a precious or a rare 
material. ‘Then as to the saving of labour, 1 cannot see that 
there is any better proof of this at all determining the desira- 
bility of the hexagonal-shaped cell; if honey-bees were left to 
their own resources, in localities to which they are indigenous, I 
believe that, like all other insects, they would just perform the 
amount of labour necessary to carry out the ends for which they 
are designed in nature; at the same time I see occasionally indi- 
viduals of the same species, one labouring day by day in the con- 
struction of a nidus adapted to its purposes, whilst another avails 
itself of one ready made, but totally different in every respect to 
that formed by her Jaborious sister, but one that will answer her 
purpose; and in such instances I recognise a saving of labour. 
No, the hexagonal form of cell is the plan laid down by the 
