INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, 



TlEFORE I begin my description of the British 

 species of the genus Apis, I propose to offer 

 a few preliminary observations upon the Hyme- 

 noptera class ; consisting of a short review of its 

 history previous to the time of Linneus, an account 

 of what has been done in it by him and his suc- 

 cessors, and ending with a particular inquiry into 

 the present state of the genus, which I have un- 

 dertaken to elucidate. These, I hope, will furnish 

 satisfactory reasons for those alterations which I 

 have found myself under the necessity of making, 

 and for that method of arrangement which I have 

 adopted. 



The Great Parent of the universe, when he 

 furnished this terrestrial globe with its inhabitants, 

 caused the earth and waters, as the sacred historian 

 informs us (a), to produce every thing " according 



(fl) Genesis i. 11 — 25, 



B to 



