32 



THE APIARY. 



pollen, and secreting- wax, entitles them to our close con- 

 sideration of their structure and of the tools provided 

 them by Nature for carrying- on tiieir handiwork. 



In a treatise of this kind, intended to be of a popular 

 character, we shall endeavour to place these details 

 before our readers in a concise and simple manner, 

 avoiding as much as may be technical terms, and refer- 

 ring those who wish to go more deeply into this branch 

 of the subject to the works of Bonnet, Huber, Kirby 

 and Spence, Dr. Bevan, &c. . 



In the course of our description, we shall frequentiy 

 have to refer to the steel engravings, Plates I. and II., 

 drawn by Mr. E. W. Robinson, artist to the Entomo- 

 logical Society of London, who has most carefully dis- 

 sected bees we sent him for the purpose, subjected these 

 dissections to the microscope, and skilfully produced the 

 accompanying illustrations, which will so much assist us 

 in our agreeable task. These delineations are so clear, 

 that a little explanation will suffice to bring home to the 

 understanding of the curious the component parts of the 

 bee, and the uses to which the various members are 

 applied. 



Because the bee is so small an insect, its organization 

 ought not to be neglected to be investigated. "The 

 bee is little among such as fly, but her fruit is the chief 

 of sweet things." The enlightened Boyle, when con- 

 templating the wonders of Nature, declared that his asto- 

 nishment had been more excited by the mite than by the 



