2o6 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 



