The Life of the Bee 
there are other advantages also with respect 
to the solidity of the work. The angle 
at the base of each cell, the apex of 
the pyramidal cavity, is buttressed by 
the ridge formed by two faces of the 
hexagon of another cell. The two tri- 
angles, or extensions of the hexagon faces 
which fill one of the convergent angles of 
the cavity enclosed by the three rhombs, 
form by their junction a plane angle on 
the side they touch ; each of these angles, 
concave within the cell, supports, on its 
convex side, one of the sheets employed 
to form the hexagon of another cell ; the 
sheet, pressing on this angle, resists the 
force which is tending to push it out- 
wards; and in this fashion the angles are 
strengthened. Every advantage that could 
be desired with regard to the solidity of 
each cell is procured by its own formation 
and its position with reference to the 
others.” 
TQI 
