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THE MAEVEL OF INSECT LIFE. 



and in a double row, end to end. They are hexagonal 

 in shape, so as to avoid wasted space, and the bottom of 

 each cell is composed of three diamond-shaped plates, all 

 exactly alike, and fixed to the cell so that they exactly 

 correspond with the bottoms of three cells in the opposite 



HIVE BEE. EDGE OP COMB \VITH ROYAL CELL. 



layer. Mutual support is thus given, and the cells are 

 strengthened just where strength is most needed. 



If we ask how the bee makes its cells so mathematically 

 perfect, we have no answer. The fact is, that we do not 

 know how the bee builds its hexagonal cell, any more 

 than we know how the termite is taught to rear its 

 gigantic palaces, the caddis-worm to make its subaquatic 

 tubes, the swallow to build its nest of mud., and the 

 sand-martin to burrow holes in soft rocks. 



