SAMUELSON, ON THE UONEY-BEE. 53 



tiie stoppage or diversion of indiiect rays that niiglit tend to confuse tlie 

 common image. 



"In a former work*' we expressed the opinion tliat the object of these 

 numerous facets in the compound eyes of insects is to render the external 

 field clearer when the insect has occasion to enter the dim hollows of llowers 

 and other dark places in search of food, through the formation of a single 

 picture by the union of a great number of smaller images ; and tliis view 

 would apfiear to receive striking confirmation from the organs of vision in 

 the Bee, which spends a considerable portion of his time in the coroUse of 

 flowerSj or in the darkened hive." 



After this lengtlienecl extract, which will give our readers 

 a good idea of the style and the matter of the work, we can. 

 only say that many other points in the anatomy of the bee 

 are treated in the same way. The functions of the bee are 

 examined in detail, not omitting the curious question of the 

 parthenogenetic origin of the male or drone bees. The ques- 

 tion of the original form of the cell, as to'whether it be hexagonal 

 or cylindrical, is discussed ; and the author is inclined to adopt 

 the view of Mr, Darwin that they are originally cylindrical. 

 The drawings illustrating the anatomy of the insect are admi- 

 rably done, and they will be found invaluable to those vdio 

 wish to mark, with microscope in hand, the beautiful structure 

 of these familiar creatures. This volume is a worthy com- 

 panion of 'The Earthworm and the Housefl}^,^ and is, in fact, as 

 far as matter and treatment go, superior to that volume. 

 There are other " humble creatures" whose history might be 

 profitably told in the same way^ and we hope Mr, Samuelson 

 and Dr. Hicks will be encouraged to go on in the interesting 

 path which they have thus far so successfully trodden, 



« 



* ' The Earthworm and Housefly.' 



