CH. III.] THE HIVE BEE. 49 



they shall occupy the least possible space." By 

 making 1 the form of the cell hexagonal, the bee has 

 fully answered all the conditions of the problem : 

 this form occupies the least possible space, while 

 its construction consumes the least possible quan- 

 tity of material. 



It has been stated, that the combs are composed of 

 two sets of cells, united by their bases. Now, if 

 each set were first thoroughly formed, and then the 

 two cemented together, it is evident that there would 

 be a great waste of wax, since each of the cells 

 would have a distinct pyramidal base. Instead, how- 

 ever, of proceeding thus, the bees take the bases of 

 one set of cells as bases for those which they build 

 on the opposite surface (see fig. 1). If three pins be 

 passed through the middle of each of the rhombs 

 composing the pyramidal base of a cell, they will 

 pierce three cells of the opposite surface ; conse- 

 quently, in each comb, the base of each cell is com- 

 posed of three rhombs furnished by three different 

 cells of the other layer of the comb. 



It has been already stated that the community of 

 bees is divided into three classes workers, males, 

 and a female. Huber has found that there is a divi- 

 sion of labour among the workers ; one set of work- 

 ers are finished architects, who plan and build the 

 edifice they at the same time are the nurses of the 

 young; while the other are mere bricklayers and 

 I. E 



