Chap. VII. 
CELLS OF THE HIVE-BEE. 
227 
layer; and at the same distance from the centres of the 
adjoining spheres in the other and parallel layer; then, 
if planes of intersection between the several spheres in 
both layers be formed, there will result a double layer of 
hexagonal prisms united together by pyramidal bases 
formed of three rhombs; and the rhombs and the sides 
of the hexagonal prisms will have every angle identi¬ 
cally the same with the best measurements which have 
been made of the cells of the hive-bee. 
Hence we may safely conclude that if we could 
slightly modify the instincts already possessed by the 
Melipona, and in themselves not very wonderful, this 
bee would make a structure as wonderfully perfect as 
that of the hive-bee. We must suppose the Melipona 
to make her cells truly spherical, and of equal sizes; 
and this would not be very surprising, seeing that she 
already does so to a certain extent, and seeing what 
perfectly cylindrical burrows in wood many insects can 
make, apparently by turning round on a fixed point. 
We must suppose the Melipona to arrange her cells in 
level layers, as she already does her cylindrical cells; 
and we must further suppose, and this is the greatest 
difficulty, that she can somehow judge accurately at 
what distance to stand from her fellow-labourers when 
several are making their spheres; but she is already 
so far enabled to judge of distance, that she always 
describes her spheres so as to intersect largely; and 
then she unites the points of intersection by perfectly 
flat surfaces. We have further to suppose, but this is 
no difficulty, that after hexagonal prisms have been 
formed by the intersection of adjoining spheres in the 
same layer, she can prolong the hexagon to any length 
requisite to hold the stock of honey; in the same 
way as the rude humble-bee adds cylinders of wax 
to the circular mouths of her old cocoons. By such 
