74 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



The size of the colls in which workers are reared never 

 varies ; the same may substantially be said of the drone- 

 cells, which are much larger; those in which honey is 

 stored vary greatly in depth,, while in diameter they are 

 of all sizes, from that of worker to that of drone-cells. As 

 five worker, or four drone-cells, will measure about one 

 linear inch, a square inch of comb will contain, on each 

 side, twenty-five worker, or sixteen drone-cells. 



As bees in building their cells, cannot pass immediately 

 from one size to another, they display an admirable saga- 

 city in making the transition by a set of irregular inter- 

 mediate cells. Plate XV. (Fig. 48), exhibits an accurate 

 and beautiful representation of comb, drawn for this work 

 from nature, by M. M. Tidd, and engraved by D. T. 

 Smith, both of Boston, Mass. The cells are of the size of 

 nature. The large ones are drone-cells, and the small ones, 

 worker-cells. The irregular, five-sided cells between them, 

 show how bees pass from one size to another. . 



The cells of bees are found to fulfill perfectly the most 

 subtle conditions of an intricate mathematical problem. 

 Let it be required to find what shape a given quantity of 

 matter must take, in order to have the greatest capacity 

 and strength, occupying, at the same time, the least space^ 

 and consuming the least labor in its construction. When 

 this problem is solved by the most refined mathematical 

 processes, the answer is the hexagonal or six-sided cell 

 of the honey-bee, with its three four-sided figures at the 



The shape of these figures cannot be altered ever so lit- 

 tle, except for the worse. In addition to the desirable 

 qualities already enumerated, they serve as nurseries for 

 rearing the young, and as small air-tight vessels for pre- 

 serving the honey from souring or candying. Every pru- 

 dent housewife who carefully stores her preserves in 



