RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1858]. Bee Theory Begin: Mr W. has given an ingenious theory on construction of cells. CUL-DAR48.B63. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.
Bee Theory Begin: Mr W. has given an ingenious theory on construction of cells, that several begun tend to excavate cylinder & hollow bottoms so that the curves just touch each other, & their instinct guides them to eat to certain thickness. He gives diagram to illustrate this. But then at end he adds paragraph* (P Encyclop. Ld. Brougham) (I was guided by P. Huber paper on Melipone) that he supposes that the courses? or circles intersect each other: had he added that the insects tend build & excavate circles & spheres (all equal circles) at given distance he would have arrived at the following theory, what is only a modification of Mr Waterhouse. Before giving my theory, I must state certain well-known circumstances. (1) Insects can excavate or build cylinders & spheres, from turning round - & can judge to certain extent judge of distance. Humble-Bees cells & cells of Melipone &c. (2) Bees work mainly together or alternately. (3) Planes of Intersection. How they do this modelling & remodelling, as seen even in Hive Bee & in comb of wasp. [sketch]
Then for hypothesis - How judge of distance, F. Smith on Wasps - Worker Bees varying gradually size of comb round [sketch] small cells. (is this not proof of some irregularity?) Cannot
explain, but seeing that they can judge within length of one body to some extent of length, now gave assumption
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022