SHAPE OP CELLS. 
49 
seem at first thought that the circular or cylin- 
drical form would be best adapted to the shape of 
the insect. But were this the case, one of the 
most important conditions of the difficult problem 
given a few sentences back would be omitted. 
Place any three tubular dishes or vessels so that 
their sides shall come in contact ; or even three 
apples or three tumblers will show the same re- 
sult. There will be a vacant space, waste room, 
between them ; they cannot be so brought to- 
gether as to occupy all the space. So in the 
honey-comb, there would be an open and waste 
space between every three adjoining cells, while 
strength would also be lost by the lack of support 
upon the sides. 
Were the cells triangular, or square, the comb 
could be made, without needless vacancies ; but 
either of these forms would require more mate- 
rial, and be unsuitable to the shape of a bee’s 
body, while they would he deficient in strength. 
The six-sided form of the cell obviates every 
objection; and, while it exactly fulfills the condi- 
tions of the problem, is as well adapted to the 
shape of the bee as a cylindrical form. 
4 
