100 THE BUILDING OF BEES. 



bees, the Italian (551), for instance, often use also pieces 

 of old combs, which may be within their reach. 



The comb, thus built, is easily detected on account of its 

 darker color. Queen-cells (104) seem to be always built of 

 particles, taken from the comb on which they hang, and are 

 never of pure wax. 



"Thus, filtered through yon flutterer's folded mail, 

 Clings the cooled wax, and hardens to a scale. 

 Swift, at the well-known call, the ready train 

 (For not a buz boon Nature breathes in vain) 

 Spring to each falling flake, and bear along 

 Their glossy burdens to the builder throrg. 

 These with sharp sickle, or with sharper tooth. 

 Pare each excrescence, and each angle smoothe, 

 Till now, in finish 'd pride, two radiant rows 

 Of snow white cells one mutual base disclose. 

 Six shining panels gird each polish 'd round; 

 The door's fine rim, with waxen fillet bound; 

 While walls so thin, with sister walls combined. 

 Weak in themselves, a sure dependence find. ' ' 



Evans. 



210. The cells of bees are found to fulfill perfectly the 

 most subtle conditions of an intricate mathematical problem. 



Let it be required to find what shape a given quantity of 

 matter must take, in order to have the greatest capacity and 

 strength, occupying, at the same time, the least space and con- 

 suming the least lahoi- in its construction. When this problem 

 is solved by the most refined mathematical processes, . the 

 answer is the hexagonal or six-sided cell of the honey-bee, 

 with its three four-sided figures at the base ! 



The shape of these figures cannot be altered ever so little, 

 except for the worse. 



211. The bottom of each cell is formed of three lozenges, 

 the latter forming one-third of the base of three opposite 

 cells. 



"If the little lozenge plates were square, we should have the 

 same arrangement, but the bottom would b*^ *.^ sharp pointed 



