established the practice of the early formation of artificial 

 swarms, and it is building upon this theory that Professor 

 Thury, of Geneva, has brought forth fruits, and results 

 which have been laid before the Royal Agricultural Society 

 of England, and makes one part of the question so simple 

 and comprehensible. Huber has added in his earlier writ- 

 ings, " Experiments and theory therefore concur in demon- 

 strating that the larvae of a bee may become a 

 queen or worker, according to circumstances." A 

 female always appears, whether possessing the physical 

 qualities of maternity as the fecundity of queens, or the 

 conservative properties displayed by the workers in regard 

 for the young. This partition of industry and courage on 

 the one hand, and of prodigious fecundity on the other ; 

 this partition, originating from the mysterious rearing of 

 the larvse, is amongst the finest subjects for contemplation 

 which natural history affords ; and let us accord what we 

 can of one of the most curious discoveries which has em- 

 bellished science, to the great penetration and perseverance 

 of Sehirach. As we have so many beautiful and perfect 

 instruments brought here to-day, I wUl appeal to their 

 penetration and definition, and turn to the actual anatomy 

 of the queen bee and compare the visible efiects on the 

 various parts of the bee when transformed into a perfect 

 Queen. I must not omit a passing tribute of regret to the 

 memory of a Kentishman, who was curator at Canterbury 

 Museum, Mr. Xewman, one of the most pains-taking and 

 correct naturalists of his day, and a great loss to the scien- 

 tific entomological world, although he has left us some of 

 hifl works in his grammar ; yet the entomological societies 

 required such a perfect depictor of insects. M adamosielle 

 Jurine, although she died early in life, still had assisted 

 Huber in dissecting and comparing the external organiza- 

 tion of the bee. I have said that the eyes are the only 

 parts that do not undergo any very material change ; a 

 very casual examination will prove this ; but I wish to 

 revert to the hexagonal lenses of the eye, and (o examine 



