172 



BRITISH BEES. 



supplies us with Ariadne's thread. Every such combi- 

 nation breaks up more harmonious groups, and we then 

 retrace our steps, satisfied that we are on the wrong 

 road. 



In some other orders of insects the cibarial apparatus 

 has but little bearing upon the insect's mode of life, for 

 in many it is not used either for nutrition or in their 

 economy, or so slightly so as to admit of its being con- 

 sidered of very inferior importance, although systema- 

 tists to enhance the value of their own labours, by the 

 frequent difficulty, from excessive minuteness, of its exa- 

 mination have usually made it a prominent feature in 

 their arrangements. 



That science has not widely strayed away from the 

 true succession and natural affinities by the main selec- 

 tion of the trophi for the arrangement of the bees, seems 

 partially confirmed by the gradations of form or habit 

 that this method of treatment in general exhibits. A 

 higher method doubtless exists, which would give form, 

 number, and proportion very inferior rank in ordering 

 the arrangement, but at present the clue to it has not 

 been discovered. 



These questions are indeed beyond the scope of a 

 work of this character, which is merely a ladder to the 

 fruits of learning, and the bearing of them is only hinted 

 at to indicate that there is much exercise for the intelli- 

 gence in the study of even this small family. The mind 

 that would stop in the study of nature at the knowledge 

 of genera and species, can be very speedily satisfied, and 

 one bright spring day's successful collecting will furnish 

 the materials for much patient and industrious occu- 

 pation. 



In nature we find all things apparently blended in the 



