186 
WAX AND COMB CONSTRUCTION. 
In the next illustration (Fig. 71) we see other 
forms of cells, some of them (^, c) having acute 
angles, which some allege it is impossible for bees to 
build, but which nevertheless they have done, as all 
these illustrations are engraved from impressions taken 
from the actual combs. 
Besides the regular six-sided worker and drone 
cells, there are transition cells. These are con- 
structed in passing from worker to drone cells. 
The alteration is made in from four to six rows, 
but sometimes, although very rarely, in one row. 
The transition cells are very irregular, and there 
seems to be no rule to guide the bees in their con- 
struction. 
In Fig. 65 we see some of these cells at c, between 
the worker cells (a) and drone cells (b). In the illus- 
tration (Fig. 72) a number of such cells are shown, and 
the regularity of the comb is to a certain extent pre- 
served by the intercalation of an additional row of 
cells, as it will be seen that the first four rows of drone 
cells at a on the right-hand top corner are equal to 
five worker cells {b) lower down. In the transition 
cells of brood combs, brood is frequently found. At 
d will be seen cells with right angles, and at a cell 
having seven sides. The thick lines show where the 
walls are thickened, and the shaded parts where the 
spaces are not large enough for cells ; these are usually 
filled in with wax and excavated a little way down 
from the surface. 
The angles between the cell wall vary considerably, 
as will be seen in the illustrations (Figs. 69, 71, and 
