74 
THE HIVE AND IIONEY-BEE. 
The size of the cells in which workers are reared never 
varies; the same may substantially be said of the drone- 
cells, which are much larger; those in which honey is 
stored vary greatly in depth, while in diameter they are 
of all sizes, from that of worker to that of drone-cells. As 
five worker, or four drone-cells, will measure about one 
linear inch, a square inch of comb will contain, on each 
side, twenty-five worker, or sixteen drone-cells. 
As bees in building their cells, cannot pass immediately 
from one size to another, they display an admirable saga¬ 
city in making the transition by a set of irregular inter¬ 
mediate cells. Plate XV. (Fig. 48), exhibits an accurate 
and beautiful representation of comb, drawn for this work 
from nature, by M. M. Tidd, and engraved by D. T. 
Smith, both of Boston, Mass. The cells are of the size of 
nature. The large ones are drone-cells, and the small ones, 
worker-cells. The irregular, five-sided cells between them, 
show how bees pass from one size to another. 
The cells of bees are found to fulfill perfectly the most 
subtle conditions of an intricate mathematical problem. 
Let it be required to find what shape a given quantity of 
matter must take, in order to have the greatest capacity 
and strength , occupying, at the same time, the least space, 
and consuming the least labor in its construction. When 
this problem is solved by the most refined mathematical 
processes, the answer is the hexagonal or six-sided cell 
of the honey-bee, with its three four-sided figures at the 
base! 
The shape of these figures cannot be altered ever so lit¬ 
tle, except for the worse. In addition to the desirable 
qualities already enumerated, they serve as nurseries for 
rearing the young, and as small air-tight vessels for pre¬ 
serving the honey from souring or candying. Every pru¬ 
dent housewife who carefully stores her preserves in 
