COMBS, AND THE FORM OF CELLS. 



93 



But then it would never do for the cells to be 

 round, because what we gained in one way we should 

 more than lose in another, for, if round, they would 

 never fit together, and a great deal of space would be 

 lost, and, not fitting, they would be very liable to 

 break. Much heat also would be lost, a most impor- 

 tant consideration to the bees. This you can see by 

 the illustration. 



Squares. 



Equilateral Triangles. 



But, if not round, would not a square shape do ? 

 Certainly not, for although square cells would very 

 well fit side by side, all the corners (and it would be 

 still more so with equilateral triangles) would be very 

 awkward for the young bees, and, in making these 

 corners and angles, a great deal of material would be 

 wasted. 



Well then, if the round shape would not do, but 

 only because circular cells would not fit well side by 

 side ; and the square shape would not do, because of 

 all the corners and waste of material ; it follows (try 

 and understand this) that the best shape for cells is 

 that which is nearest the shape of the circle, and yet 

 will allow the cells to lie close together. This shape 

 is the hexagon, for although an octagon is more like 

 a circle than a hexagon, a set of octagons would not fit 



