10G 
ARCHITECTURE OF DEES. 
strength.” Besides, each cell is strengthened at its 
mouth by a strong thread formed of a mixture of 
wax and propolis, soldered to the inner edges, and 
giving it, by filling up the angles, a circular form. 
This gives great solidity to the fabric, and prevents 
the mouths of the cells from being easily injured by 
the unceasing ingress and egress of the bees. 
It is remarkable that the cell of a honey-comb, 
including its hexagonal sides and its pyramidal basis, 
is the figure, of all others, the best adapted for con- 
taining the greatest possible quantity, in the least 
possible space, and with the least expense of mate- 
rial. “ There are only three possible figures of the 
cells,” says Dr. Reid, “ which can make them all 
equal and similar without any useless interstices. 
These are the equilateral triangle, the square, and 
the regular hexagon.” Of these, the hexagon is the 
best fitted for the bee-cell, for it unites to the 
requisites stated by Dr. Reid, economy of materia], 
and a figure better adapted to the shape of the insect. 
This last property would have been possessed in a 
greater degree by the cylindrical form, but it would 
have left a vacant space between every three contigu- 
ous cells. The square and the triangle would have 
left no interstices, but would have consumed more wax, 
and been ill-adapted to the shape of the bee. The 
hexagonal form employed combines all the requisites ; 
for, together with a convenient figure for the reception 
of the bodyof the insect, it secures economy of material 
and economy of space, both as respects the number of 
