BEES. US 



The working bees compose the most numerous part 

 of the republic, To them is entrusted the defence 

 of the city; they bring in the honey ; build the cells, 

 and nourish the young. They do all the offices of 

 the hive ; they fight against all intruding strangers, 

 and, in short, attend to all the concerns of the 

 State. 



Drones are distinguished from the working bees by 

 their larger size, and by their making more noise 

 when on the wing. They die in July, and are 

 carried out of the hive by the working bees. 



The bee or apis is a genus of insects, of which 

 the mellifica, or common bee, is the most valuable. It 

 is very remarkable in their history, that they will not 

 remain domesticated among a savage people. Sev- 

 eral authors mention the circumstance, that the honey 

 bee and the common house fly do not, and will not re- 

 side with the North American Indians. 



Bees have their superior officers, whom they follow 

 and obey in all cases. When one of these dies, if 

 he be at the head of the government, all working ceas- 

 es ; the bees are no longer on the wing in quest of 

 honey, but the whole city appears to be covered with 

 mourning and confusion. The bees are seen through 

 a glass hive, some standing in groups as if discussing 

 the merits of the deceased, or the order of the fu- 

 neral procession ; while others, like guards, are walk- 

 ing to and fro before the passage. The funeral pro- 

 cession then takes place the dead dignitary is car- 

 10* 



