320 Miscellaneous. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The Hexagonal Structure formed in Cooling Beesivax in relation to 

 the Cells of Bees. 



To the Editors of the ^Annals and Magazine of Natural History.'' 



Gentlemen, — With regard to the explanation of the hexagonal 

 arrangement of the cells of the honeycomb offered in the November 

 number of 'Natural Science' (pp. 347-350) and in the Ann. & 

 Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 7, vol. v., Jan. 1900, pp. 121-126, by Messrs. 

 Dawson and Woodhead, I would like to point out that crystalline 

 structure in the wax has no direct influence in producing the 

 hexagonal markings seen on the surface of cooling or cooled wax. 



This fact is illustrated in Messrs. Dawson and Woodhead's own 

 experiments, for they remark that " the addition to beeswax of 

 resinous substances gave a more pronounced and bolder outline to 

 the hexagons," though they add that they do not consider this to be 

 necessary for the production of the hexagons. 



In point of fact the more nearly homogeneous a sijbstance is, the 

 better are the results obtained. In the case of beeswax the minute 

 acicular crystals do not interfere with the phenomena seen on the 

 cooling surface ; but colloidal substances, such as Canada balsam, 

 give the best results. 



According to the writers experience, the hexagonal arrangement 

 of the surface is due entirely to the contraction of the uppermost 

 layer, consequent upon the unequal cooling of that surface. If one 

 take, for example, either beeswax, paraffin-wax, Canada balsani, 

 or any other wax or resin, crystalline or non-crystalline, melt 

 it thoroughly, and examine the surface as it slowly cools, he will 

 see a hexagonal tracery, by reflection, marked out over the surface. 

 If a jet of cold air be projected upon this surface the hexagons 

 instantly contract, and on removing the cooling agent they expand 

 again. 



As the outcome of this simple phenomenon, due directly to strain 

 and contraction, we have the interesting structures in igneous rocks 

 known as the columnar, perlitic, and spheroidal. 



With regard to the melting of the wax by the bees, this is not 

 easy to understand, since the melting-point of beeswax is 145° F., 

 and, according to our best authorities on this subject, the ordinary 

 temperature of the hive is 65° F., although at times during agitation 

 of the bees this may be increased, but not to the amount required 

 to liquefy the wax. F. Chapman. 



Geological Laboratory, 



Royal College of Science, London, 



December 5, 1809. 



