54 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
sliape^ and thereby save both room and materials 
beyond what they could save if they built in any other 
shape whatever. They build in the best possible 
shape for their purpose^ which is to save all the space 
and all the wax they can. So far as to the shape 
of the walls of each cell ; but the roof and floor, or 
top and bottom, are built on equally true principles., 
It is proved by mathematicians that to give the 
greatest strength and save the most room, the roof 
and floor must be made of three square planes meet- 
ing in a point ; and they have further proved by 
a demonstration belonging to the highest parts of 
algebra, that there is one particular angle or inclina- 
tion of these planes to each other where they meet, 
which makes a greater saving of materials and of 
work than any other inclination whatever could 
possibly do. Now the bees actually make the tops 
and bottoms of their cells of three planes meeting in 
a point, and the inclination or angles at which they 
meet are precisely those found out by the mathema- 
tician to be the best possible means of saving wax 
and work. Who would dream of the bee knowing 
the highest branches of mathematics ? This little 
insect works with a truth and correctness which are 
perfect, and according to the principles at which man 
has arrived only after ages of slow improvement in 
the most difficult branch of the most difficult science. 
But the mighty and all-wise Creator who made the 
insect and the philosopher, bestowing reason on the 
latter and giving the former to work without it — 
from him all truths are known from all eternity^ with 
