From Erasmus Alvey Darwin [May–June 1858]1
Dear Charles.
The obtuse ∠ of the Dodec,2 placed with its axis vertical call its highth above the horizontal plane
| h = = = 0.088 |
|
Footnotes
It has not been possible to date the letter more precisely: in May 1858 CD reported that he had ‘settled’ his theory of the construction of bees’ cells (see letter to W. E. Darwin, 14 [May 1858]); but in June he was still investigating the geometry of cells (see letter to W. E. Darwin, [26 May 1858], and letters from E. A. Darwin, [before 8 June 1858], [8 June 1858], [after 8 June 1858], and [19 June 1858]).
This letter and subsequent letters on the problem show that CD was seeking to confirm that the geometry of hive-bees’ cells, which may be regarded as hexagonal prisms with pyramidal bases comprising three rhombic plates or as stretched rhombic dodecahedrons, could naturally arise from the compression and extension of spheres arranged in a honeycomb pattern. See also letter to W. H. Miller, [15 April 1858].
Summary
Calculations relating to bees’ cells.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-2195
- From
- Erasmus Alvey Darwin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- unstated
- Source of text
- DAR 48: B18
- Physical description
- AL 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2195,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2195.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 7
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