RULES AND CAUTIONS. 295 



complete snug covering, to nearly the extremity of 

 the tail, by its wings. Having no concern in genera- 

 tion, this bee is of no sex, neither male nor female. 

 Its province is solely that of labour, of which it per- 

 forms every species which is needful for the com- 

 munity. Gathering in the harvest from the flowers, 

 constructing and filling the combs, feeding the young, 

 murdering the useless, and preserving the hive in 

 that state of cleanliness and neatness, in which these 

 industrious and astute insects take so great delight. 

 This bee is furnished with natural implements, 

 extensive and strong, in proportion to the labour 

 which it has to perform. It has two hard teeth or 

 jaws, which enable it to collect the wax, knead it, 

 and construct the cells : also to remove any sub- 

 stance of which it is desirable to be ridded. The 

 proboscis, of a shining chesnut hue, exclusive of its 

 sweeping property, by which the farina of the blossom 

 is attracted, is likewise furnished with a channel, 

 through which, by a muscular power in the organ, 

 honey and liquids are drawn into the gullet. It is 

 supposed, that the collection of honey and farina by 

 the bee is a distinct operation, and that it never 

 enters the hive laden with both. 



For the following rules and cautions, furnished by 

 a judicious practical apiarian, and friend to the work, 

 the author holds himself much obliged. 



" It is not to be expected that any one can possess 

 an intuitive knowledge of the management of an 

 apiary, and especially of some points of the utmost 

 consequence to the prosperity of the hives. A per- 

 son is generally, in a certain degree, a judge of the 

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