212 The Honey Bee. [May. 



small tree with larger, rose-red corymbs was Pyrus coronarius. The 

 beautiful Cratjegus apiifolia next claimed our attention, also a small 

 tree, armed with spines, profusely adorned with larger corymbs, 

 whose white corollas were occasionally flaked with crimson. Ber- 

 ehemia volubilis (supplejack) (not yet in flower) was everywhere 

 binding shrub and tree in its inextricable folds, and endless varieties 

 of greenbrier (smilax), yet flowerless, defied our approach, by their 

 thorny mazes as they did our analysis by their variations. A rajuble 

 in a more open woods, beneath the slight shade of Pinus palustris, 

 the long-leaved, 80 or 90 feet in height, gave us leisure to notice the 

 multitude of the vaccinimus, now flowering and about to flower. 

 Here the taller V. corymborum, with ever perplexing varieties, and 

 there Michaux's V. galezans, a smaller shrub. V. myrtifolium and 

 V. myrsinites, with evergreen foliage were also at hand, as well as 

 the beautiful little V. dumosum. These pine barrens are rich in 

 those whortleberries and blueberries. 



Another section of the woods displayed again the Pinguicula and 

 Chaptalia, some 4 or five miles beyond the bridge. Thus during two 

 days we travelled these lonely woods and waters, all satisfied with 

 the reward of capturing the first flowers of the spring, and observing 

 the thousand novelties of this southern maritime region. Just as 

 the evening shades fell upon the ebbing tide of the Ogeeche, the cry 

 arose from the negroes who happened to be upon the bridge, "Alligator, 

 Alligator!" Quickly we were upon a post of observation, and there in- 

 deed floated the scaly monster, some 12 feet long, now raising his 

 head and now his tail, and now both at once, above the water. A rifle 

 was at hand, and a well directed shot which was distinctly heard to 

 crash against the scaly head an instant after the report, caused the 

 beast to writhe and plunge, and we saw him no more. 



Yours, &c. 



THE HONEY BEE. 



Entomologicallt, as well economically considered this little in- 

 Bect stands at the head of its order, and to the curious must ever 

 prove a subject of surpassing interest. 



As the honey bee has been one of our pets from childhood, and 

 its habits and more interesting traits have engaged our attention, 



