373 
NESTS OF APOICA. 
Another point in these nests is, that although they vary so 
much in diameter, their thickness is almost uniform. The 
reason is evident enough. As the young larvae attain a tolerably 
uniform size, and are not boldly divided into large males, larger 
queens, and little workers or neuters, the cells are of equal 
length. Therefore, whether the number be great or small, the 
thickness of the cell-group remains unchanged, though the 
diameter may increase to any reasonable amount. 
All the nests are fixed in the same manner, a branch or twig 
passing through the upper surface. Vf hen the nest increases in 
size, the original support is often found to be too slight ; and in 
that case, others are added. The smaller nests are upheld by a 
single twig only, but the largest is supported at no less than 
three points, two tolerably stout branches passing through the 
side of the cover, and a smaller twig supporting the top. 
Another point to be noticed is, that the size of the nest is no 
criterion o f its shape. It is not necessarily circular because it is 
large, nor hexagonal because it is small. The eight examples in 
the British Museum show every gradation of shape between 
the hexagon and the circle, without the least reference to size. 
How the insect forms these wonderful cell-groups is an enigma 
to which not the least clue can be found. In proportion to the 
size of the ’architect, they are simply enormous, and yet the 
sides and angles are as true and just as if they were single cells. 
It is very clear that neither the theory of excavation or of equal 
pressure can apply to these nests, and an additional reason is 
afforded why these theories should be abandoned. It is to be 
regretted that the only reasoning is of the destructive kind ; but 
at present we have no data on which to found a theory that 
seems in the least tenable. 
In the nest to which reference has been made, the insects 
have carried out the hexagonal principle in a curious manner. 
A number of cells whose mouths are closed with a white silken 
cover prove that the inmates are undergoingtheir metamorphosis, 
and are in a transitional state between the larva and the perfect 
insect. Instead, however, of being scattered at random through- 
out the nest, the inhabited cells are arranged in the most 
