STUDY X. 271 



wind, witk which ihe is well acquainted, and 

 alighting, with a humming found, on the cavern- 

 ous trunk of fome aged oak. Here again we per- 

 ceive a fucceffive order, on feeing a great multi- 

 tude of little individuals, fimilar to her, coming 

 out, and going in, according as the bufrnefs of 

 the hive may require. That one, whofe particular 

 conformities we have been admiring, is only a 

 lingle member of a numerous Republic; and this 

 Republic itfelf is but a fmall Colony, of the im- 

 menfe Nation of bees, fpread over the whole 

 Earth, from the Line up to the (hores of the frozen 

 Ocean. 



This Nation, again, is frbdivided into different 

 fpecies, conformably to the various fpecies of 

 flowers; for there are fome which, being deftined 

 to live on flowers which have no depth, fuch as the 

 radiated, are armed with five hooks, to prevent 

 their Aiding on the petals. Others, on the con- 

 trary, fuch as the bees of America, have no flings, 

 becaufe they conftrud their hives in the trunks of 

 prickly trees, which are very common in that pare 

 of the world : fuch trees, accordingly, are their 

 protedion. There are many other conformities, 

 among the other fpecies of bees, with which we 

 are totally unacquainted. Neverthelefs, this vafl 

 Nation, fo varied in it's Colonies, and whofe pof- 

 feffions are fo extenfive, is but one little family of 



the 



