The Life of the Bee 



there are other advantages also with respect 

 to the solidity of the work. The angle 

 at the base of each cell, the apex of 

 the pyramidal cavity, is buttressed by 

 the ridge formed by two faces of the 

 hexagon of another cell. The two tri- 

 angles, or extensions of the hexagon faces 

 which fill one of the convergent angles of 

 the cavity enclosed by the three rhombs, 

 form by their junction a plane angle on 

 the side they touch ; each of these angles, 

 concave within the cell, supports, on its 

 convex side, one of the sheets employed 

 to form the hexagon of another cell ; the 

 sheet, pressing on this angle, resists the 

 force which is tending to push it out- 

 wards ; and in this fashion the angles are 

 strengthened. Every advantage that could 

 be desired with regard to the soHdity of 

 each cell is procured by its own formation 

 and its position with reference to the 

 others." 



191 



