THE CELLS 387 



structing them. In order to increase their capacity, 

 you must increase as much as possible the number 

 of their facets. I will not try to demonstrate to you 

 this beautiful truth; it is beyond your intelligence. 

 Geometry affirms it ; let us consider it a fact. 



" Starting from that, the choice is soon made. 

 Among all the regular figures that can be placed side 

 side without leaving an unoccupied space, you 

 must choose that which has the greatest number of 

 sidos, for that is the one that will hold the most honey 

 for the same quantity of wax used. 



"Geometry teaches that the only regular figures 

 that can be arranged without waste of space are : the 

 three-sided figure, or triangle; the four-sided, or 

 square; and the six-sided, or hexagon. That is all: 

 no other regular figures touch all around so as to 

 leave no empty spaces between them. 



"So it is, then, in the hexagonal form, or form 

 with six sides, that the cells can occupy, collectively, 

 the least space, use the least wax, and hold the most 

 honey. Bees, knowing these things better than any 

 one else, make hexagonal cells, never any other 

 kind." 



"Then bees have reason," remarked Claire, "like 

 ours; even superior, if they can solve such prob- 

 lems?" 



"If bees constructed their cells after a premedi- 

 tated, considered, calculated plan, it would be some- 

 tli'mLr ;il;i rming, my dear child: animals would rival 

 man. Bees are profound geometricians because 

 work, unconsciously, under the inspiration of 



