First, Œconomy of materials. There are no useless partitions in a honey-comb, each of the six lateral pannels of one cell forms also one of the pannels of an adjoining cell; and of the three rhombs which form the pyramidal base of a cell, each contributes one-third towards the formation of the bases of three opposing cells, the bottom or centre of every cell resting against the point of union of three pannels that are at the back of it. Secondly, Œconomy of room; no interstices being left between adjoining cells. Thirdly, The greatest possible capacity or internal space, consistent with the two former desiderata. Fourthly, Œconomy of materials and œconomy of room produce œconomy of labour. And in addition to these advantages, the cells are constructed in the strongest manner possible, considering the quantity of materials employed. Both the sides and bases are so exquisitely thin, that three or four placed on each other are not thicker than a leaf of common writing-paper; each cell, separately weak, is strengthened by its coincidence with other cells, and _the entrance is fortified with an additional ledge or border of wax_, to prevent its bursting from the struggles of the bee-nymph, or from the ingress and egress of the labourers. This entrance border is _at least three times as thick as the sides of the cell_, and thicker at the angles than elsewhere, which prevents the mouth of the cell from being regularly hexagonal, though the interior is perfectly so. "On books deep poring, ye pale sons of toil. Who waste in studious trance the midnight oil, Say, can ye emulate with all your rules. Drawn or from Grecian or from Gothic schools. This artless frame? Instinct her simple guide, A heaven-taught Insect baffles all your pride. Not all yon marshal'd orbs, that ride so high. Proclaim more loud a present Deity, Than the nice symmetry of these small cells, Where on each angle genuine science dwells. And joys to mark, through wide creation's reign, How close the lessening links of her continued chain." +Evans.+