Of course the success of the species may be
dependent on the number of its enemies, or parasites, or on quite distinct
causes, and so be altogether independent of the quantity of honey which the
bees can collect. But let us suppose that this latter circumstance
determined, as it probably often has determined, whether a bee allied to
our humble-bees could exist in large numbers in any country; and let us
further suppose that the community lived through the winter, and
consequently required a store of honey: there can in this case be no doubt
that it would be an advantage to our imaginary humble-bee if a slight
modification of her instincts led her to make her waxen cells near
together, so as to intersect a little; for a wall in common even to two
adjoining cells would save some little labour and wax. Hence, it would
continually be more and more advantageous to our humble-bees, if they were
to make their cells more and more regular, nearer together, and aggregated
into a mass, like the cells of the Melipona; for in this case a large part
of the bounding surface of each cell would serve to bound the adjoining
cells, and much labour and wax would be saved. Again, from the same cause,
it would be advantageous to the Melipona, if she were to make her cells
closer together, and more regular in every way than at present; for then,
as we have seen, the spherical surfaces would wholly disappear and be
replaced by plane surfaces; and the Melipona would make a comb as perfect
as that of the hive-bee.
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