102" ee HIST ORY OF BEE S, 
bey 
. are 2 all hexagons, built on eee fides of the comb, 
but a cell on ‘one fide is not placed direétly” feat a” 
cell upon t the oppofite fide ; but the bafis of a cell ot this 
fide anfwers to three third parts of the hexagonal bafis of 
three contiguous cells on ‘the otner fide, meeting all in’ 
a right angle in the center of the oppofite bottom, which: 
ferve both for el egance and fecurity, ftrength and beauty. 
Thus they appear matters of geometrical meafures and 
inventions: all the cells thro’ the hive are regular and’ 
perfect hexagons, and equilateral ; are fupports to each o- 
ther, and wifely and artificially contrived ; the wax be- 
ing d diftended into the fineft aiid moft curious membrane 
poftible, which framing numerous cells moft clofely con- 
nected with one another, the whole fabrick is effectually 
fupported. | 
eis furprizing to fee fo many thoufands of thefe in- 
feds, merely by natural inftinét, framing their combs 
with fo great a curiofity, regularity and order. But a 
ftri&t and diligent view of one of thefe combs newly e- 
rected, will enable the reader to form a more juft and 
perfect idea thereof, than the fulleft defcription given of 
it by the pen. 
Moreover, there is this advantage in it’s figure, that 
there is not the leaft room loft; no vacuity or empty 
{pace thro’ all the hive. And fuch is the delicacy and 
finenefs of the compofure, that when the cells are filled 
with honey, they appear as one fingle and folid body. 
The {quare, together with the equilateral triangle, 
have the like advantage ; yet feem lefs capacious and 
extenfive, this figure having a greater affinity with the 
fphere. The 
