THE HONEY-BEE. 107 



cells contained in a coinb, and the internal capacity of 

 each. The same, or, if possible, still more admirable 

 skill and arrangement are displayed in the basis of the 

 cell. The three rhombuses of which it is composed, 

 have the two obtuse angles each of 110 degrees, and, 

 consequently, each of the two acute angles of 70 de- 

 grees. This measurement was taken by Maraldi, 

 and it was verified by Koenig, a celebrated mathema- 

 tician and pupil of Bernouilli, who, on being desired by 

 Reaumur to calculate the quantity that should be given 

 to this angle in order to employ the least wax pos- 

 sible in a cell of the same capacity, found that the 

 angle in question ought to be 1 09 26' or 1 10 nearly, 

 the very angle which the insect adopts. What a sur- 

 prising agreement ! A difficult mathematical pro- 

 blem is proposed for solution to a man of pro- 

 found science, and it is found that an insect, ' f little 

 among such as fly/' instructed by the Fountain of 

 Wisdom, has anticipated the calculations of the 

 Geometer, and practically exhibited in its waxen 

 structures the same conclusion precisely which the 

 philosopher arrived at, only by the exercise of con- 

 siderable ingenuity, and deep thought ! The cal- 

 culation has also been verified by our distinguished 

 countryman Maclaurin, who very justly observes, 

 that " the bees do truly construct their cells of the 

 best figure, not only nearly, but with exactness, and 

 that their proceedings could not have been more 

 perfect from the greatest knowledge of geometry." 

 After all, as Dr. Reid remarks, the geometry is not 



