THE BEE. $09 



the fpring, to that gathered in fummcr ; which yet is more valnablc than 

 that of autumn. 



In Guadaloupe, the bee is lefs by half than the European, and blacker 

 and rounder j has no fting, and makes ceils in hoHow trees : if the hole 

 is too large, the bees form a fort of waxen houfe, pear-fhaped ; in this 

 they lodge, ftore their honey, and lay their eggs. They lay up their ho- 

 ney in waxen vefiels, the fize of a pigeon's egg^ black or deep violet 

 colour J and fo jointed together, that there is no fpace between them. 

 The honey never congeals, but is fluid, of the confidence of oil, and 

 amber coloured. There are found little black bees, without a fting, re- 

 fembling thefe, in all tropical climates ; and though thefe countries have 

 bees, like our own, yet thofe form the moft uicful tribe in thofe parts. 

 Their honey is more palatable, and lefs forfeiting than ours ; the wax is 

 fo foft, that it is only ufed for medical purpofes, not being hard enough 

 to form candles. 



Of infects that receive the name of bees there are feveral. The 

 Humble-Bee is the largeft, equalling the firft joint of the middle finger.- 

 Thefe are feen in every field and flower. They build in holes in the 

 ground, of dry leaves, mixed with wax and wool, defended v^ith mofs. 

 Each makes a feparate cell, about the fize of a fmall nutmeg, round and 

 hollow, containing the honey in a bag. Several of thefe cells are joined, 

 fo that the whole appears like a cluftcr of grapes. The females, which 

 have the appearance of wafps, are few ; their eggs are laid in cells, which 

 the refl: foon cover with wax. Uncertain whether they have a queen? 

 but one is much the largefl:, without wings or hair, all black like polifbed 

 ebony. This views the works, from time to time, and enters the cell, 

 as if to fee v/hether every thing is right. In the morning, the young 

 humble-bees aie idle, and not inclined to labour, till one of the largeft 

 thrufts half its body from a hole on the top of the neft, bears its wings, 

 buzzing till the colony is in motion. The humble-bees gather ho- 

 'ney, but not fo fine, or good, as the common bees, nor the wax fo clean, 

 or capable of fufion. 



The Wood Bee is larger than the common queen-bee j blueiih black, 

 fmooth and fliining j appears at the approach of fpring, flying near walls 

 of a warm afpedl. This bee makes its neft in fome half-roiten piece of 

 wood, which it fcoops for its purpofej never in ftanding trees. The 

 *" holes turn to one fide ; their opening is fufficicnt to admit a finger^ 

 from v/hence runs the inner apartment, generally twelve or fifteen inches 

 long. Their teeth bore thcfc cavities; they ufually branch into three 



7 or 



