APIS. BEE. 
Generic Character. 
Os maxillis atqiie probo- 
scide inflexa vaginis dua- 
biis bivalvibus. 
Al^ planas. 
Aculeus feminis et neutris 
punctorius, reconditus. 
Mouth furnished with jaws 
and an inflected pro- 
boscis with two bivalve 
sheaths. 
Wings flat, or without plaits. 
Sting in the female and neu- 
tral insects, concealed. 
TT'hIS genus, which, like the preceding, is of 
very considerable extent, is distributed by Lin- 
naeus into two assortments, viz. those in which 
the body of the animal is but slightly covered with 
fine hair or down, and those in which it is remark- 
ably villose or hairy: the insects of -the latter di- 
vision are commonly distinguished by the title of 
Humble-Bees. 
In the first division the chief or most important 
species is the Apis mellijica or common honey-bee, 
so long and justly celebrated for its wonderful 
polity, the neatness and precision with which it 
constructs its cells, and the diligence with which 
it provides during the warmth of summer a sup- 
ply of food for the support of the hive during the 
rigours of the succeeding winter. The general 
v. VI. p. II. 19 
