170 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



neva, it appears more carelessly and less ingeniously 

 formed, although the hexagonal structure of the cells 

 still predominates in it. Some, it is said, form nests of 

 irregularly attached oval cells, like our Bombi. It is 

 quite impossible to think of giving here, where we are 

 so cramped for space, any thing like a suitable account 

 of the economy of the hive bee (Apis domcstica) and 

 its congeners; but as this is dwelt upon in every book 

 treating upon insects, we shall merely mention the 

 extent of its distribution. Thirteen have hitherto been 

 described, and others we know: two species only seem 

 to occur in Europe, one confined to the North (our do- 

 mestic bee), and the other to the South. Others, we 

 surmise, might possibly be found in Spain, from its 

 proximity to Africa, were that fine country diligently 

 searched. Western Africa and India appear to produce 

 the greatest number of species ; but we believe they 

 are not as diligently cultivated in those countries as in 

 Europe and Egypt, although this might be supposed to 

 be the case in Western Africa, from the large quantities 

 of wax that are imported thence, and which are brought 

 from the interior. It would be trite to remark upon 

 the uses of these industrious little insects to man, prior 

 to the discovery of the sugar-cane. They must also 

 have abounded in Judea that land flowing with milk 

 and honey; and the allusions of the oriental poets show 

 the extent of their appropriation throughout the east. 

 The enormous consumption of wax in catholic countries, 

 both now, and when Europe was wholly catholic, and 

 before it could be substituted by a vegetable extract, 

 and the produce of a whale, exhibits the little insect in 

 another light, that of contributing to the religious 

 rites of man ; and this further shows what extensive 

 employment they must have afforded to multitudes of 

 individuals : but we will close the subject with ex- 

 pressing our gratitude for its adaptation to the wants 

 and the comforts of man, and our great admiration of 

 the wonders of its economy and instincts. We have 

 dwelt purposely longer upon this group of insects, from 



