1;>2 ON BEFS AND BONTEA'. 



is this, by any means. For it is at the rates of sevantyr-fivo^ 

 eighty-eight, and one hnndred and eleven per cent respective- 

 ly, and a mnch better investment than any tliat can be made 

 jnst now, in either cotton or woolen mills, or rail road stocks. 

 The Con:jmitee earnestly desire to call the attention of the 

 Essex larniers, and of the rnral popnlation generally, to the 

 consideration of this interesting subject, and will present a few 

 thoughts for them to reilect iijjon. 



No subject under the general head of Natural History, is 

 more interesting, and none presents a wider field for curious- 

 investigation, than that under consideration, The "A|»is 

 Mellifica,'' that is the "Hcney gathering bee." of Linnaeus, lias 

 attracted a great share of attention from the earliest times. Its 

 industry has been the constant tlieme of admiration and praise. 

 Its instinct, or rather its almost reason ; its skill and frugality 

 of means ; its watchful sagacity and boldness in defence of 

 property and home ; its well organized form of social life ; its 

 steady application of the best adapted means to bring about a 

 determinate result ; its mathematical economy of material iii3; 

 the fabric of its cell ; its studious and successful concealmen;1i 

 of the "modus et tempus copulandi," of the mak and female-; 

 the uncertainly of the locality of the organs by which the 

 impressions of siglit, touch, taste-, sound and smell are produc- 

 ed, in line its entire economy, have been discussed by observers 

 and naturalists, sung about by poets, comiuented upon, and 

 laboriously, nay, even acrimoniously argued and disputed 

 about by philosophers and apiarians, from the earliest ages. 

 Particularly, to quote the language of the Rev. Mr. Dunbar, 

 of Scotland, in the naturalist's library, " have the poet and 

 philosopher, each delighted in tlie study of an insect, wliose 

 nature and habits afford so ample scope for enquiry and con- 

 templation ; and even the less intellectual peasant, while not 

 insensible of the profit arising from its judicious culture, has 

 regarded with pleasure and admiration, its ingenious operations 

 and unceasing activity." The venerable Kirby happily ob- 

 serves of them, " wise in their government, diligent and ac- 

 tive in their employments, devoted to their young and to their 

 queen, the bees read a lecture to mankind that exemplifies 



