APIS. 345 



the basal cavity. That the bees should have been thus 

 guided to elect a form which combines conjunctively the 

 advantages of strength and capacity evidently proves that 

 it is their instinct which guides them, which, being an 

 afflation from the highest source, ensures the most com- 

 plete perfection in its result. That it cannot be the 

 effect of simultaneous lateral pressure is proved incon- 

 testably by the whole superstructure resulting from the 

 design of the base ; and this is further corroborated by 

 the base of one cell on one side forming invariably equal 

 portions of the base of three cells on the opposite side, 

 all clearly the result of preconceived design impressed 

 upon their sensorium. From this combination of forms 

 results the security procured to the fragile tenement, 

 which consists of the very smallest quantity of material 

 that will cohere substantially, for the bees are exceed- 

 ingly parsimonious of their wax, as if the production of 

 it were attended with pain or inconvenience, and it is 

 only upon the construction of the royal cells that a pro- 

 fusion of this choice material is squandered. As soon 

 as these cohorts of bees are in active operation, it is 

 astonishing with what pertinacity and rapidity they 

 labour, for within the space of four-and-twenty hours 

 they will construct a cake a foot deep and six inches 

 wide, containing within its double area some four 

 thousand cells. Other cakes parallel to each side of the 

 original are being at the same time carried forward with 

 an interval between each sufficient for two bees to pass 

 each other dos a dos, and further to promote the con- 

 venience of traffic within the hive, and ready communica- 

 tion to its several parts, passages are left through these 

 cakes from one to the other, so that the means of transit 

 are opened, which of course saves much time. The queen 



