Hexagonal Cells by Bees and Wasps. 133 
great Architect, and the bees are the builders that carry out His 
designs. 
In the year 1858 this subject was brought before the Society by 
Mr. Tegetmeier, and at that time Mr. Waterhouse explained the 
nature of the circular theory, which, in his opinion, clearly elu- 
cidated the principle upon which all hexagonal cells are built by 
bees and wasps. My own observations on the mode of con- 
struction adopted by wasps, I found, in what was then assumed 
as essential to the formation of hexagonal cells, directly opposed, 
and I attempted, with such material as I at that time possessed, 
to combat the theory, which appeared to me inapplicable to the 
building of wasps ; and I had the pleasure of finding, shortly after- 
wards, that one of our most intelligent inquirers held the same 
opinion. 
Since that period Mr. Brown has advocated Mr. Waterhouse’s 
theory in the “ Zoologist,” and the former gentleman assumes it 
as a fact, that no bee or wasp has been known to construct a 
single isolated hexagonal cell ; contact with other cells, if I under- 
stand Mr. Brown rightly, being the essential condition which 
influences the hexagonal form; and if so, as regards complete 
cells, I take it for granted that it equally influences any portion 
of a cell that is raised into an isolated position; therefore I feel 
that I am warranted in assuming that no portion of a hexagonal 
cell can possibly be carried up above the surrounding cells, if the 
premises are infallible. 
Mr. Brown gives it as his opinion, that “every cell during its 
progress is impinged upon by six other cells, and as all progress 
at the same time, the united attempts of the workers to avoid 
interspaces and to expend no more wax than is necessary to the 
making of firm walls, produce inevitably the hexagonal structure.” 
Mr. Tegetmeier has given it as the result of his experience, “ that 
the outer portion of each cell is cylindrical until a fresh cell is 
added on its outer side, when the cell becomes an inner one, and 
its outer sides transformed into a hexagon.” 
When this subject was last brought before the Society, I ex- 
pressed my opinion to be, that the wasp commenced her comb 
with the intent instinctively to build hexagonal cells; since that 
time, I have had many opportunities of examining nests of wasps 
and bees, and the result is, if possible, a more confirmed belief in 
my original opinion. I shall have the pleasure of offering to your 
notice a number of most interesting examples of the architecture 
of wasps, and of pointing out the facts upon which my opinions 
are based; should I fail to prove my case to the satisfaction of a 
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