Descri ption of Comb-C ells. 155 
very center of the floor of the cell. From the six free or 
non-adjacent edges of the three rhombs extend the lateral 
walls or faces of the cell. The apex of this basal pyramid 
is a point where the contiguous faces of three cells on the 
opposite side meet, and form the angles of the bases of three 
cells on the opposite side of the comb. Thus the base of 
each cell forms one-third of the base of three opposite 
cells. One side thus braces the other and adds much to 
the strength of the comb. Each cell, then, is in the form 
of a hexagonal prism, terminating in a flattened triangular 
pyramid. 
The bees usually build several combs at once, and carry 
forward several cells on each side of each comb, constantly 
adding to the number, by additions to the edge. The bees 
in constructing comb make the base or so called mid-rib, 
the “fish-bone” in honey where foundation is used, thick 
at first, and thin this as they add to the cells in lengthening 
them. Thus we understand why bees take so kindly to 
foundation. To work this out is not contrary to their 
instincts, and gives them a lift. Huber first observed the 
process of comb-building, noticing the bees abstract the 
wax-scales, carry them to the mouth, add the frothy saliva, 
and then knead and draw out the yellow ribbons which 
were fastened to the top of the hive, or added to the comb 
already commenced. 
The diameter of the -worker-cells (Fig. 53, c) averages 
little more than one-fifth of an inch—_Réaumur says two and 
three-fifths lines, or twelfths of an inch—while the drone- 
cells (Fig 53, a) are a little more than one-fourth of an inch, 
or, according to Réaumur, three and one-third lines. But 
this distinguished author was quite wrong when he said: 
«“ These are the invariable dimensions of all cells that ever 
were or ever will be made.” A recent English author, 
after stating the diameter of cells adds: “The statement 
many times made that twenty-five and sixteen of these, 
_ respectively, cover a square inch, is erroneous, as they are 
not square.” He says there are 28 13-15 and 18 178-375. 
After many counts I conclude that he should have used 
his eyes rather than his mathematics. I find the worker- 
cells per square inch vary from 25 to 29, and the drone- 
