1 06 ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 



strength/' Besides, each cell is strengthened at its 

 mouth by a strong thread formed of a mixture of 

 wax and propolis, soldered to the inner edges, and 

 giving it, by filling up the angles, a circular form. 

 This gives great solidity to the fabric, and prevents 

 the mouths of the cells from being easily injured by 

 the unceasing ingress and egress of the bees. 



It is remarkable that the cell of a honey-comb, 

 including its hexagonal sides and its pyramidal basis, 

 is the figure, of all others, the best adapted for con- 

 taining the greatest possible quantity, in the least 

 possible space, and with the least expense of mate- 

 rial. " There are only three possible figures of the 

 cells," says Dr. Reid, "which can make them all 

 equal and similar without any useless interstices* 

 These are the equilateral triangle, the square, and 

 the regular hexagon." Of these, the hexagon is the 

 best fitted for the bee-cell, for it unites to the 

 requisites stated by Dr. Reid, economy of material, 

 and a figure better adapted to the shape of the insect. 

 This last property would have been possessed in a 

 greater degree by the cylindrical form, but it would 

 Lave left a vacant space between every three contigu- 

 ous cells. The square and the triangle would have 

 left no interstices, but would have consumed more wax, 

 and been ill-adapted to the shape of the bee. The 

 hexagonal form employed combines all the requisites ; 

 for, together with a convenient figure for the reception 

 of the body of the insect, it secures economy of material 

 and economy of space, both as respects the number of 



