358 APPENDIX. 



Others, incapable apparently of forming this outer crust for 

 their hives, seek cavities ready formed for their reception, and 

 in them construct their habitations. Instances of each of these 

 kinds of hivfes are mentioned by Piso in his Natural History 

 of both the Indies (page 112); and Hernandez, in his history 

 of Mexico (Lib. ix. p. 133), states, that the Indians keep 

 bees analogous to ours, which deposit their honey in the hol- 

 lows of trees. Little information beyond that furnished by 

 these older writers is contained in more modern works ; and 

 even the Baron Von Humboldt, to whose acute observation 

 science is indebted for so many discoveries respecting the 

 New World, appears not have noticed, with his usual care, 

 the peculiarities of its bees. Had that distinguished traveller 

 directed his attention to the habits of the species which he col- 

 lected during his memorable journey, M. Latreille would 

 doubtless have given to us the necessary details in his ex- 

 cellent Monograph of the American Bees, included in the 

 Observations Zoologiques of M. Humboldt. In the valuable 

 essay prefixed to this Monograph, M. Latreille has collected 

 from authors numerous statements relating to the habitations 

 of bees, and especially of those of America ; but has added to 

 them no new facts as regards the hives of the New World. 

 The subject may, therefore, be regarded as altogether novel, 

 and as requiring some little detail in its explanation. 



In the domestication of the bees of Mexico but little vio- 

 lence is done to their natural habits. Inhabitants, in their 

 wild state, of cavities in trees, a hollow tree is selected to form 

 their hive. A portion of it, of between two and three feet in 

 length, is cut off, and a hole is bored through the sides into 

 the hollow, at about its middle. The ends of the hollow are 

 then stopped up with clay, and the future hive is suspended 

 on a tree, in a horizontal position, with the hole opening to the 

 cavity directed also horizontally. Of the hive, thus prepared, a 

 swarm of bees speedily take possession, and commence their 

 operations by forming cells for the reception of their larvae, 

 and sacs to contain the superabundant honey collected by 

 them in their excursions. Two such hives, completely formed 

 and occupied, were brought to England, safely packed in re- 



