876 THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 



thin wall of wax, they could make their cells of the proper 

 shape, by standing at the proper distance from each 

 other, by excavating at the same rate, and by endeavor- 

 ing to make equal spherical hollows, but never allowing 

 the spheres to break into each other. Now bees, as may 

 be clearly seen by examining the edge of a growing 

 comb, do make a rough, circumferential wall or rim all 

 round the comb; and they gnaw this away from the op- 

 posite sides, always working circularly as they deepen 

 each cell. They do not make the whole three-sided 

 pyramidal base of any one cell at the same time, but 

 only that one rhombic plate which stands on the extreme 

 growing margin, or the two plates as the case may be; 

 and they never complete the upper edges of the rhombic 

 plates until the hexagonal, walls are commenced. Some 

 of these statements differ from those made by the justly 

 celebrated elder Huber, but I am convinced of their 

 accuracy; and if I had space, I could show that they are 

 conformable with my theory. 



Huber's statement, that the very first cell is excavated 

 out of a little parallel-sided wall of wax, is not, as far 

 as I have seen, strictly correct; the first commencement 

 having always been a little hood of wax; but I will not 

 nere enter on details. We see how important a part 

 excavation plays in the construction of the cells; but it 

 would be a great error to suppose that the bees cannot 

 build up a rough wall of wax in the proper position — 

 that is, along the plane of intersection between two ad- 

 joining spheres. I have several specimens showing 

 clearly that they can do this. Even in the rude circum- 

 ferential rim or wall of wax round a growing comb, 

 flexures may sometimes be observed, corresponding in 



