Chapter V. 



Architecture of the Hive-Bee. 



Part of a honeycomb, and bees at worlc. 



Although the hive-bee (Apis meUiJica) has engaged 

 the attention of the curious from the earhest ages, 

 recent discoveries prove that we are yet only begin- 

 ning to arrive at a correct knowledge of its wondeiful 

 proceedings. Pliny informs us that Aristomachus, of 

 Soles, in Crlicia, devoted fifty-eight years to the 

 study; and that Philiscus the Thracian spent his 

 whole life in forests for the purpose of observing 

 them. But in consequence (as we may naturally 

 infer) of the imperfect methods of research, as- 

 VOL. IV. 8* 



