ARCHITECTURE OF BEES. 345 



the apex of the pyramid being situated where the 

 three obtuse angles of the lozenges meet. To the 

 exterior edges and angles are attached the six 

 pannels or sides of each cell. The apex of each 

 pyramidal bottom, on one side of a comb, forms 

 the angles of the bases of three cells on the oppo- 

 site side, the three lozenges respectively concurring 

 in the formation of the bases of the same cells. 

 This will I hope explain what is meant by " each 

 cell separately weak, being strengthened by coin- 

 cidence with others." The bottom of each cell 

 rests upon three partitions of opposite cells, from 

 which it receives a great accession of strength. 



As it is desirable that the reader should 

 thoroughly comprehend this subject, I will re- 

 state it in other words. The partition which 

 separates the two opposing rows of cells, and 

 which occupies, of course, the middle distance 

 between their two surfaces, is not a plane but a 

 collection of rhombs, there being three at the 

 bottom of each cell : the three together form in 

 shape a flattened pyramid, the basis of which is 

 turned towards the mouth of the cell ; each cell 

 is in form therefore an hexagonal prism, termi- 

 nated by a flattened trihedral pyramid, the three 

 sides of which pyramid are rhombs, that meet at 

 the apex by their obtuse angles. The plates un- 

 derneath, represent the opposite surfaces of the 

 pyramidal bases of adjoining cells, and will, I 

 Q 5 



