7412 Insects. 



resorts to lay its eggs, and on it the larva feeds, often associated in large numbers. In 

 the substance of this fungus it excavates winding galleries, appearing to prefer the 

 thinner portions, or at least parts of moderate thickness, to the thick and more coria- 

 ceous parts about the fool-slalk. It feeds for about six weeks, and then, having 

 attained its full size, it makes a hole through the under side of the fungus and drops 

 to the earth, in which it buries itself and awaits the following summer to undergo its 

 final metamorphosis. Once onlj have I known the metamorphosis completed in the 

 fungus itself; collected in October and enclosed in a glass vessel, both the larvae and 

 pupsB were much better preserved thus than when procured from the earth ; sometimes 

 I have had the pleasure of collecting more than two hundred specimens in a day." The 

 perfect insects were observed by Mr. Lewis on the fir post and rail fence at the railway- 

 station at Charlton, the larvse and pupae in a fungus which grew just at the junction 

 of post and rail. — Edward Newman. 



Hexagonal Form of Bees' Cells. — There can be no doubt as to the liability of 

 cylinders to become hexagonal under a certain amount of pressure ; but why are we 

 to infer that the hexagonal cells of bees have been thus formed ? Colonel Newman 

 has proved (Zool. 7369) that the hexagonal form does not result from the pressure of 

 the honey contained in the cells. Where, then, is the pressure to come from ? But 

 granting, for the sake of argument, the presence of compressing force where, surely, 

 none can exist, would it make the comb what it is ? I think there are several 

 objections which may be urged against this. First, would the extreme fragility of the 

 walls of the cells admit of their receiving, without breaking, the very considerable 

 amount of pressure necessary to make them apply to one another without leaving any 

 interstices ? Then, the bases of the cells are, as every one knows, sculptured in the 

 previously-formed partition, before the sides are begun. Now, would not the efi'ect of 

 subsequent pressure be to force each cell at least partially from its base? And if, as 

 would probably be the case, its adhesive power were sufficient to resist this force, 

 would not the sides be distorted, or at least thrown out of their original position ? 

 Again, the cylindrical cells must be either larger or smaller in circumference than the 

 hexagonal ones they are required to form ; if smaller, they must stretch in com- 

 pressing, in order to fill up the interstices, which is absurd. On the pressure theory, 

 then, they must be made larger than the required size of the hexagonal cells, to allow 

 for the eff'ects of the compressing force ! Is not this attempt, then, to explain away 

 the mathematical accomplishments of the bees something like accounting for a lessei 

 difficulty by creating, as it seems to me, a greater; to say nothing of the apparent 

 insuflBciency of compression to produce the solid angle which is contained by the base 

 of each cell. I should be very much obliged to any of the advocates of the pressure 

 theory who would answer these queries satisfactorily. — B. Carron ; Loxton Rectory, 

 near Axhridge, Somerset, February 18, 1861. 



[Of course the pressure hypothesis cannot be entertained unless the article pressing 

 be specified: the only articles in contact are — 1st, atmospheric air ; 2adly, honey; 

 3rdly, larvse and their cocoons ; 4thly, the locomotive bees, Wben the advocates of 

 the hypothesis explain from which of these sources the pressure arises, and how it 

 acts, we shall have the means of considering the matter, but not until then. — Edward 

 Newman!] 



