Parti. in />6^ Cre ation. 133 



caufe then there muft have been triangular Spa- 

 ces left void. Now there are only three redi- 

 lineous and ordinate Figures which can ferve to 

 this Purpofej and inordinate, or unlike ones, 

 muft have been not oiily lefs elegant and beau- 

 tiful, but unequal. [Ordinate Figures are fuch as 

 have all their Sides and all their Angles equal.] 

 The three ordinate Figures are, "Triangles, Squares^ 

 and Hexagons *y for the Space about any Point 

 ifiay be fiU'd up either by fix equilateral Tria?:^ 

 gles^ or four Squares^ or three Hexagons ; whereas 

 three Pentagons are too little, and three Hepta- 

 gons too much. Of thefe three, the Bee makes 

 ufe of the Hexagon, both becaufe it is more ca- 

 pacious than either of the other, provided they 

 be of equal compafs, and fo equal Matter fpent 

 in the Conftruftion of each ; and fecondly, be- 

 caufe it is moft commodious for the Bee to creep 

 into; and laftly, becaufe in the other Figures 

 more Angles and Sides muft have met together 

 at the fame Point, and fo the Work could not 

 have been fo firm and ftrongj moreover, the 

 Combs being double, the Cells on each fide the 

 Partition are fo ordered, that the Angles on one 

 fide infift upon the Centers of the Bottoms of 

 the Cells on the other fide, and not Angle upon 

 or againft Angle, which alfo muft needs contri- 

 bute to the Strength and Firmnefs of the Work ; 

 thefe Cells flie fills with Honey for her Winter 

 Provifion, and curioufly clofes them up 'with 

 Covers of Wax, that keep the included Liquor 

 from fpilling, and from external Injuries, as 



K 3 Mr. 



