314 'i^HE INSECT WORLD. 



Some deposit their eggs in the bodies of other insects, which die 

 immediately the larvce which Hve in them have attained their full 

 development. The larvae of the Chalcididce and of the Ichneumonidm 

 furnish examples of Hymenoptera which inhabit the interior of the 

 body of another insect. Other parasitical species carry on their 

 depredations in a different way. They content themselves with 

 laying their eggs in the nests of other species of the order, which 

 have the advantage over them in being able to construct for them- 

 selves places of refuge. Their larvae live thus on their neighbours' 

 goods, nourishing themselves on the provisions which were laid up 

 for others. In this way live the Cleptes^ the Chrysides^ &c. Lastly, 

 others, such as the Gall-insects, and the Tenthredvietce, or Saw-flies, 

 live in their first state exposed on plants, and feed upon their leaves. 



We shall only here describe the principal families of the Order 

 Hymenoptera, which contains a considerable number of species. 

 These families will be — ist. The Apiarice^ containing the Honey 

 Bees, the Melipodes, and the Humble Bees. 2nd. The Vespiaries^ or 

 Wasps. 3rd. The Fonnicarice, or Ants. 4th. The Gallicolce^ or 

 Gall-insects. 



Bees. — Man, from the very earliest age, before any civilisation 1 

 existed, knew the value of bees, and took advantage of the products ■ 

 of these industrious insects. The Bible makes mention of honey 

 bees. Their Hebrew name is Deborah. The Greeks called them by 

 the name of Melissa, or Melitta. 



Their wonderful architectural powers, their economical fore- ' 

 thought, the wonderful combination of their reasonings, which denote \ 

 a real intelligence, their admirable social organisation, have in all ^ 

 times fixed the attention of naturalists, as they have also that of poets fl 

 and thinkers. Virgil has celebrated them. In the fourth book of 

 his Georgics, the Latin poet has summed up all that the ancients 

 knew about bees. He paints with a good deal of truth many traits 

 in their history, points out their enemies, and sets forth with accurac; 

 all the care that should be taken of them. In the words of th 

 Mantuan poet, they are heavenly gifts, dona ccekstia, and their 

 intelligence excited his admiration :— 



" His quibus signis atque hsec exempla secuti, 

 Esse apibus partem divince mentis, et haustus 

 ^'Ethereos dixere." .... 



Let US hasten to say, however, that all which the ancients, 

 naturalists or poets, Greek or Latin, relate on the subject of bees, is 

 a mixture of truth and error, and rests generally on mere supposition. 



