BEE LABOURERS. 193 



of all the worlds now busy, the insect world (as busy as any) 

 combines, perhaps, with its labour the most equal amount of 

 pleasure. Here at least we may joy our eyes with the sight 

 of work and play as frequent companions, and when not 

 exactly seen together, they are here found almost always to 

 follow each other in close and orderly succession. 



Some insects indeed there now are neither merry at their 

 work nor merry at their play, yet are they, nevertheless, in 

 passive enjoyment of a summer holiday. These consist, for 

 the most part, of certain " Spinners and Knitters in the sun," 

 whose chief work as caterpillars having been finished in spring 

 or early summer, are now, as aurelias, slumbering in golden 

 rest ; while others, occupied in their last laborious effort, are 

 bursting from their self-wrought trammels, whether of silk or 

 fabric more substantial, to employ themselves henceforth, with 

 other busy idlers, solely in pursuit of pleasure. 



Distinguished from these active idlers, as most active of 

 workers, are the busy Bees; and in these especially, as we 

 watch them half -labouring, half-revelling in the midst of sunny 

 odours, we seem to see business and pleasure mingled in their 

 very essences, and enclosed a drop to each within those 

 tiny vases " aux milles fleurs " the bodies of our insect 

 gatherers. 



Of the business seemingly so pleasant which makes up the 

 life of a Bee Labourer, be it now our business and our pleasure 

 to say a few words, at all events, in season. But how do 



