206 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 
She knew how much internal cell-space each 
larva required for growth. The problem, therefore, | 
was this: of what shape, nearly approaching the 
cylindrical, ought such a cell to be made, which 
would ensure the right dimensions, but which 
would occupy the least possible room, have the 
greatest possible strength, consume the least pos- 
sible material in its manufacture, and possess the 
property that a number of similar cells could be 
built up in a double vertical plane, leaving no 
interstices either between the cells or between the 
planes ? 
There is only one solution to this problem ; and 
the honey-bee found it—who shall say how many 
ages ago?—in the hexagon cell, with its base 
composed of three rhombs. 
The whole astounding ingenuity of the thing 
can only be realised when a piece of nearly per- 
fect, new-made, virgin-comb has been closely 
examined. It will be at once seen that the hexa- 
gon cells combine together over the surface of the 
comb in absolute geometrical union, and-that the 
six-sided form is round enough for all practical 
purposes. Looking into the cells on one side of 
the comb, it will be noted that their bases take the 
form of depressed pyramids, each made up of three 
diamond-shaped planes. Turning the comb over, 
we see that the cells on this side also have 
pyramidal bottoms. If the depth of a cell on one 
side of the comb be taken, and added to the depth 
