RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. [Note on Bees' cells.] CUL-DAR48.B62. 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.


[B62]

Bees Cells (?)

Proportional Height of walls of Pentagons in both sides & especially of the upright wall to common side of hexagons.

Means of building edge of oldish Comb.

First cell, whether traces of lateral cells: whether simultaneously 2 or 3 cells on opposite side.

Whether edge of pyramidal basin is ever rounded on further side, & if so draw outlines

Whether ridge of Wax ever extends above or laterally beyond first cell.

If I cd get Tegetmeier 3 cells to see size of cylinder compared with Hexagon & length of the one intermediate wall in (& so with Hornet cells of Mr W) longer than ending side of hexagon; it ought to be so.

If cells are ever arched at further edge, measure carefully straight walls, for they ought to be longer than if formed on the non-spherical theory.

Whether a rhomb is ever completed without opposite four having been worked at?

[B62v]

Examine 100 of cell

Is rhomb ever made without opposite rhomb? Is arch ever connected (except on surface of attachment) ever connected into angles with cells made beyond?

Is not clearing of cells always commenced from first formed by 3 other angles, or from line of junction of 2 planes at base of cell? or laterally if from summit, & then from obtuse angle.

Measure thickness of rough-cast wall of hexagon & edge, & measure thickness of perfected wall. Measure or get calculated depth of pyramid

Measure straight walls of attached cells on both sides.

See about flexuous margin where 2 planes are intersected.

Hexagonal outline never completed before rhombs made.

Theoretically, I think, each wall out to be a basin.


Return to homepage

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022