The Life of the Bee 
problems which belong to the higher parts 
of mathematics. It has accordingly been 
resolved by some mathematicians, par- 
ticularly by the ingenious Maclaurin, by 
a fluctionary calculation which is to be 
found in the Transactions of the Royal 
Society of London. He has determined 
precisely the angle required, and he found, 
by the most exact mensuration the subject 
would admit, that it is the very angle in 
which the three planes at the bottom of 
the cell of a honey comb do actually 
meet.” 
[ 56] 
I myself do not believe that the bees 
indulge in these abstruse calculations ; 
but, on the other hand, it seems equally 
impossible to me that such astounding re- 
another mathematician, Cramer, whose solution came 
even closer to that of the bees, viz., 109° 2834” for 
the large angle, and 70° 3134” for the small. 
194 
