158 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



selves exposed to the parasitical propensities of indi- 

 viduals belonging to other orders. This we here merely 

 glance at, as we shall have further occasion to notice it ; 

 and it therefore remains for us to observe, in these 

 general remarks, that we think it very probable that 

 this order of the Hymenoptera will, eventually, when it 

 shall have obtained all the attention from entomologists 

 that it so well merits, prove numerically as extensive, 

 or perhaps more extensive, than any other. In cor- 

 roboration of the plausibility of this supposition, we 

 have only to advert to the hosts of minute Hymenoptera 

 discovered throughout the small area of our own 

 country, and described by JNIessrs. ^Valker and Haliday ; 

 and when we reflect upon the prolific exuberance of 

 more genial climates, exemplified in the multitudes of 

 insects of the favourite orders of Lepidoptera and Co~ 

 leoptera which the zeal of collectors have brought 

 together, we may rationally expect that an assiduity 

 equivalent to INIr. Darwin's would speedily advance the 

 species of Hymenoptera to a triumphant competition 

 in number with the most numerous of the recorded 

 orders. 



(144.) The Apides, or bees, compose our first large 

 group. These insects are well known, from tlie uni- 

 versal reputation of the typical genus Apis, the do- 

 mestic bee, which, from its social habits, has ever been 

 esteemed emblematical of the monarchical government ; 

 whilst its steady industry, in storing up provision for 

 the contingencies of a barren period, have been the 

 admired theme of sages and moraUsts, who have con- 

 stantly referred to it to rouse the inertness of indolence, 

 and have cited it as an example of prudential foresight. 

 These have thus given a name to a large group of 

 insects, which, upon the progress of systematic ento- 

 mology, were found to possess certain analogous pecu- 

 liarities of structure. It must not, however, be inferred, 

 because the bee most extensively known is social in 

 its habits, and has been domesticated by man to con- 

 tribute to his luxuries and comforts, that all bees par- 



