New Works on Bees. 559 



of our British Floras ; I therefore conclude that it is exceed- 

 ingly rare, as it would undoubtedly be recorded, if it were 

 only for its extremely delicate colour. Numbers of the Or- 

 chis mascula were also found interspersed with it, as was al- 

 so a white variety of Ajuga reptans. 



The only remaining plant to be noticed is the Hyoscyamus 

 niger, three specimens of which were found nearer to Guild- 

 ford. 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. — The Honey Bee, its Natural History, Physiology, and Ma- 

 nagement. By Edward Bevan, M.D. London : Van Voorst. 

 1838. Small 8vo., pp. 447, with many woodcuts. [Second Edn]. 



2. The Bee-Keeper s Manual ; or Practical Hints on the Manage- 

 ment and complete Preservation of the Honey Bee, and in particu- 

 lar in Collateral Hives. By Henry Taylor. London: Groom- 

 bridge. 1838. 12mo., pp. 78, with woodcuts. 



3. A Short and Simple Letier to Cottagers, from a Conservative Bee- 

 Keeper, Sm 8vo., pp. 24. 



The honey bee, {Apis mellifica, Linn.), both in respect to its 

 extraordinary economy and instincts, and to the various plans 

 which have been suggested for the more successful cultiva- 

 tion of the insect, is an almost endless subject for the pro- 

 fessed entomologist and the practical bee-keeper. The won- 

 ders of the hive have attracted the notice of the most philo- 

 sophical naturalists, who have nevertheless left many intricate 

 points in the natural history of the insect, unascertained. — 

 The anatomist has investigated its structure, and the practical 

 apiarian has endeavoured, in a variety of ways, to effect the 

 very desirable end of obtaining the honey without destroying 

 the insects. The two works last mentioned at the head of 

 this article are of the latter kind, while the first is a complete 

 summary of our knowledge of the honey bee in all its bearings. 

 Dr. Bevan's work, the first edition of which appeared seve- 

 ral years ago, and which we are now happy to welcome in a 

 second and improved edition, appears to us to be by far the 

 best summary of bee-knowledge in our language. It is writ- 

 ten in a straightforward style, destitute of that would-be phi- 

 losophy and aiming at effect, which spoils so many good 

 works. It has likewise the advantage of being well arranged, 

 and is furnished with an ample index. In the present edi- 

 tion Dr. Bevan has received the assistance of several distin- 



