COMBS, AND THE FORM OF CELLS. 95 



strength. Every cell has, as it were, double walls. 

 And then again, by the way the cells fit together, and 

 by the way in which they are arranged on each side 

 of the comb, so as not to correspond, they get yet 

 further strength without adding material. 



Again, as the bees build a cell, gradually making it 

 deeper and deeper, they always contrive to leave the 

 edge, for a time, much thicker than the rest. The cell, 

 in fact, has always a strong rim, which makes it firm 

 to resist pressure and weight. 



Then again, the arrangement of the little diamond- 

 shaped pieces of wax at the bottom of the cells, of 

 which I spoke before, is the most perfect possible. 

 It is just that one plan which, more than any other, 

 gives the greatest strength to the whole structure of 

 both sides of the comb, and also good accommodation 

 to the young bees. If there were the very slightest 

 alteration of angle, so as to make the bottom of the 

 cell either flatter or more pointed, the form of cell 

 would not be so good for its purpose. This has 

 been proved by mathematicians as plainly as that 

 two and two make four. No architect or engineer, 

 indeed, could possibly have planned all this better. 

 But without any plan or calculation the bees know it 

 all by instinct, and follow out this best way with the 

 most astonishing exactness ; and the result of their 

 work is thus, as I have described, absolute per- 

 fection. 



' These, with sharp sickle, or with sharper tooth, 

 Pare each excrescence, and each angle smooth, 

 Till now, in finished pride, two radiant rows 

 Of snow-white cells one mutual base disclose, 



