54 



THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST. 



Cells of exactly the same ar- 

 rangement and the same angles as 

 the cells of bees are obtained if 

 numerous soap bubbles of equal 

 size are suspended in two parallel 

 frames, and if the two systems of 

 bubbles are approached until they 

 touch each other. 



The soap-bubbles flatten them- 

 selves, and form hexagonal prisms, 

 terminating in Maraldi's pyramids 

 at the meeting-points of the two 

 systems. The uppermost row of 

 bubbles(that attached to the frame) 

 would take the form of five-sided 

 pyramids, ?'.e., the exact form of 

 the cells which are attached to the 

 wood work. 



The conclusion is, therefore, very 

 natural that this absolu^-o agree- 

 ment in the respective forms of the 

 soap-bubbles and of the bees' cells 

 depends on similar physical condi- 

 tions in the construction of both. 



If we observe the bees when 

 building their comb, we find that, 

 underneath the board to which it 

 is attached, at least a dozen bees 

 are clinging on each side, in such 

 ar manner that the heads of the bees 

 on one side of the comb are exactly 

 opposite to those on the other. As 

 each bee, holding a ball of wax in 

 its jaws, presses as far as possible 

 upwards and forwards, the ball is 

 converted into a plate by the press- 

 ure from both sides. At first this 

 plate is not level, but is bent up 

 and down corresponding to the 

 pressure of the numerous heads of 

 the bees. As the bees press for- 

 wards, the heads, as they meet, 

 must always make way for each 

 other in the direction of the least 



resistance : that is, in a newly begun 

 comb a bee on one side is pressed 

 downwards by its two competitors 

 so as to come with its head exactly 

 in the middle between three who 

 stand opposite. 



As each bee on the one side 

 presses with its head into the space 

 between the three coming to meet 

 her, there is formed, by the press- 

 ure to which the soft wax is ex- 

 posed, the middle plate so much 

 admired on account of its "highest 

 purposiveness." 



The pyramids of Maraldi are 

 merely Plateau's equilibrium fig- 

 ures extended between the termi- 

 nations of the sides of the [ visms 

 just commenced. 



The "instinct" that the bees 

 display is very simple ; they press 

 on with their wax upwards and for- 

 wards in two perpendicular layers ; 

 of a skilful treatment of the wax 

 there is no trace. 



The Maraldi pyramids are formed 

 purely on physical principles, not 

 by the conscious activity of the 

 architects. 



The form of the head of the bee 

 has no meaning as far as the shape of 

 the bottom of the cell is concerned, 

 since, in consequence of the high 

 tempe?-ature produced by the res- 

 piration of the bees, and the con- 

 tinual pressure, the wax is plastic 

 in a high degree. 



In an analogous manner the sides 

 of the prism are also produced by 

 the pressure wliich tbe cylindrical 

 body of each bee undergoes from 

 the six bees arranged around her 

 on the same side of the comb. 



The process is exactly as when 



