ORDER VI.—VEIN-WINGED INSECTS. 233 
The Hymenoptera are found in almost every part of the 
terrestrial globe, but they are most numerous and attain 
the largest size in tropical countries. None of them are 
nocturnal, but, like the worthy and useful laboring classes 
of men, they rise with the sun, work unceasingly through 
the day, and retire to rest as soon as the evening twilight 
begins to draw its dark and damp vail over the face of 
nature. ‘They are neither seen nor heard when the cold 
storm roars and whistles without, when the thick drops of 
rain or hail come pelting af the windows, nor even at night, 
though the sparkling moonbeams dance like spectres through 
the leafless branches ; but when the summer’s sun first casts 
its morning rays over the green leaves of meadows and for- 
ests, and the sleeping birds awake to greet the rising day, 
then the humming of these industrious insects begins, and 
their earnest but monotonous music is heard all over the 
country. They fly from flower to flower, not to injure or 
destroy them, but to make them productive by distributing 
their pollen; or they collect honey and wax for the use of 
man, or they go about to rid us of innumerable noxious 
caterpillars and other insects, whch they convert into whole- 
some food for their offspring. 
The value of hymenopterous insects as agents in fertiliz- 
ing plants has many times been demonstrated by experi- 
ment. We recollect an instance of this, which transpired 
many years ago, so connected with pleasant associations 
that it made a striking impression. While on a journey 
from St. Petersburg to the transcaucasian provinces, in the 
month of February, 1825, we were obliged, on account of 
the intense cold, to stop in the Government of T'wer, on the 
estate of our friend, Gregor Wasiliewitsch Lihatchef, Col- 
onel in the Imperial Garde & Cheval. There we were 
shown a very spacious hot-house, full of fine flowering 
plants; and also, among others, about fifteen cherry-trees, 
covered with blossoms. We congratulated Lady Lihatchef 
