INTRODUCTION. 



ALTHOUGH the great addition which has of 

 late been made to our knowledge of the honey- 

 bee, may seem to render a reference to an- 

 cient writers comparatively unimportant ; yet 

 a few prefatory observations, upon the rise 

 and progress of apiarian science, may not be 

 out of season. 



The natural history and management of 

 bees would probably occupy the attention of 

 man at an early period. Surrounded by 

 a boundless variety of living creatures, he 

 would naturally be led to notice their habits 

 and ceconomy ; and no part of the animal 

 world, or at any rate no part of the world of 

 insects, would be more likely to engage his 

 consideration than the honey-bee. Honey 

 would, in all probability, constitute one of 

 his earliest luxuries ; and as he advanced in 

 civilization, he would, as a matter of course, 



