140 Mr. F. Smith on the Construction of 
the bees themselves also appears to add to the completeness of 
the theory ; but it soon occurs to us that the same bees afterwards 
construct the larger cells of the drones. And we are no better 
off if we look into the nest of the wasp, for we find the large 
queen constructing the small cells of the workers, and the workers 
constructing the large cells of males and females. 
I shall only mention one other position, still, I believe, upheld 
by the adherents to the circular theory; it is that no bee or wasp 
ever builds an isolated hexagonal cell, or a cell of hexagonal 
form carried up above the adjoining cells. If you examine the 
nest of Icaria guttatipennis, and also that of Polistes Tasmaniensis, 
both of which are exhibited, I think you will be satisfied that in- 
stances to the contrary are before you. I would also invite 
attention to a nest of Vespa Norvegica (No. 7), in which a 
central hexagonal cell is only raised to about one-third of its in- 
tended height, and has only four planes of the hexagon im- 
pinged upon by adjoining cells, the fifth and sixth cells not being 
commenced ; this example will prove that the hexagonal form 
does not necessitate the impingement of six adjoining cells for its 
production, a position that has been laid down as being absolutely 
necessary. 
No doubt it will be said that I have not shown the principle 
of the circular theory to be inapplicable to the construction of 
all hexagonal cells, but I contend that I have done so in several 
instances—in the nests of Nectarina Lecheguana and of Tatua 
morio, both wasps that erect hexagons upon flat bases; I have 
pointed out the fact that the commencements of single planes of 
the hexagon are to be found, in other cases of two or of three 
planes, and these beginnings exhibit not a trace of the circle 
any more than one, two, three or more pieces of masonry. I 
have shown that the bases of the cells of the common wasp, that 
constructs her cells upon consecutively formed bases, are hemi- 
spherical ; in the hive we know they are pyramidal; and the bases 
of the transition cells, from those of the worker-wasp to those 
destined to contain females, partake more or less of the oval form. 
Mr. Brown in his Essay remarks that “ hive-bees produce their 
ordinary comb-cells by the united efforts of many individuals. 
Owing to this circumstance, and also to their never building up 
cells at the margins of combs unflanked by the foundations of 
other cells, they afford us, when so employed, no opportunity of 
observing the fundamental scheme upon which they build.” My 
opinions are formed entirely upon observation of different modes 
of building ; my conclusicns have been forced upon me by facts, 
