BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 



331 



better. Ordinary brood-combs incline the least, and 

 store combs the most. 



One of the most wonderful features pertaining to the 

 construction of combs is, the manner of their junction 

 with opposite cells. Instead of the dividing line between 

 them being a straight line, thus : 



it is of the following form, and a pyramidical cavity 



is formed at the base of each cell, composed of three tri- 

 angular rhombs, or portions of wax, at the apex of which, 

 the union of three opposite cells meet. 



The above cut shows the pyramidal bases of four 

 cells ; the apex of one in a cavity, pointing from the 

 reader, being the centre, and the other three towards 

 him. If the cut were reversed, and the other side made 

 to appear, it would show three cavities, similar to the 

 centre one, and that now in the centre, would appear 

 like each of the other portions of the illustration. In 

 the apex: of the cavity, the egg is deposited ; being ad- 

 mirably adapted to receive it. 



I have often closely examined cells to ascertain if I 

 could discover any variation in this rule, and I have 



