M^AX AND COMB CONSTRUCTION 
181 
errors occurring from measuring only one cell, we 
selected ten cells, which, allowing ith of an inch to 
each cell, should occupy the space of 2 inches. In 
all, thirty-six measurements were taken, and we found 
the greatest aggregate diameters of any one series of 
ten cells to amount to 2*11 inches, and the least to 
i'86, a difference of the diameters of a little more 
than a cell and a quarter. We next measured a 
large piece of comb, and took sixty cells, which theo- 
retically ought to occupy the space of 1 2 inches. The 
measurements were made on three different combs, 
but they showed much variation. For instance, one 
row of cells taken 2 inches from the top measured 
1 2*10 inches, and 4 inches from the top 12*00, and 
2 inches lower down 12*01 inches. Taking ten cells 
in either of the above rows also showed considerable 
variation. In the first row the aggregate diameter of 
ten cells taken at one end was 2*07, in the middle 
I *98, and at the other end 2*08. In the second row 
the diameters were 2*10, 1*95, and 1*98. In the third 
row 2*00, I ’95, and 2*05. From this it will be seen 
that the variation is not regular, but generally speak- 
ing the cells increase in size towards the ends, although 
this is not invariably the case. All these combs were 
worked by black bees in the natural way ; but we 
would mention that measurements taken on combs 
worked by Carniolan bees showed the same variations, 
but the average size of their cells was larger. 
The variation of the diameters is certainly not due 
to stretching, for in our first measurement we found 
the aggregate of sixty cells between the parallel sides 
