180 
WAX AND COMB CONSTRUCTION. 
The worker cells (Fig. 65, a, and Fig. i, d) are ith of 
an inch between the parallel sides, and -^fths of an 
inch across the angles. The drone cells (Fig. 65, b, 
and Fig. i, k) are ^th of an inch between the parallel 
sides, and gVnds of an inch between the angles. Accord- 
ing to Abbe Collin (26), there are 27*5 worker cells and 
1 7 -09 drone cells to a square inch of comb on each side, 
although, taking the average of a large surface, not more 
than 25 and 16 will be found, and these numbers have 
generally been adopted. The thickness of worker comb 
having two cells with one base between measures about 
■|ths of an inch, that of drone comb being of an inch. 
Besides these there are the queen cells (Fig. i, f, g, h), 
and what are called transition cells (Fig. 65, c, and Fig. 
I, l), attachment cells i^Heftzellen of the Germans) (Fig. 
I, m), and honey cells (Fig. i, i), although both worker 
and drone, as well as transition cells, are used for 
storing honey. All these are built horizontally with 
an upward inclination towards the opening, and some 
are slightly curved, with the exception of the queen 
cells, which hang with their openings downwards. 
The average size of a worker cell between the 
parallel sides is Fth of an inch, or 0*02 ( a . Fig. 65, 
which is taken from a natural comb). We say 
‘ average,’ because considerable variation exists in 
different parts of the same comb, as both Reaumur 
and Huber found. In carrying out our experiments, 
we took our measurements on three parts of each 
comb, and in each case in the three directions of the 
parallel sides. Thus, each comb furnished us with nine 
.measurements. In order to reduce the possibility of 
