VKEFACB. XI 



we ouglit to refer. It will be noticed that the numbers affixed to 

 the names of the various hives and utensils do not follow in regular 

 order. Those numbers refer to our Illustrated Catalogue; with 

 which most English apiarians have long been familiar, and we 

 could not alter them without great inconvenience. 



Some persons may consider we have used too many poetical 

 quotations in a book dealing wholly with matters of fact. We 

 trust, however, that an examiaation of the extracts will at once 

 remove that feeling of objection. 



We venture to hope that the following pages contain many 

 valuable hints and interesting statements which may tend to excite 

 increased and renewed attention to the most useful and industrious 

 of all insects. Although bees have neither reason nor religion for 

 their guide, yet from them man may learn many a lesson of virtue 

 and industry, and may even draw from them thoughts suggestive 

 of trust and faith in God. 



We beg leave to conclude our preface, and introduce the subject, 

 by the following extract from Shakespeare, — who, without doubt, 

 kept bees in that garden at Stratford wherein he used to meditate :— 



" So work the honey bees ; 

 Creatures, that by a rule in Nature, teach 

 The art of order to a peopled kingdom. 

 They have a king and officers of sorts ; 

 Wiere some, like magistrates, correct at home ; 

 Others, hke merchants, venture trade abroad ; 

 Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings. 

 Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds, 

 Wbich pillage they, with merry march, bring home 

 To the tent royal of their emperor : 

 Who, busied in his majesty, surreys 

 The singing masons building roofs of gold ; 

 The civil citizens kneading up the honey ; 

 The poor mechanic porters crowding in 

 Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate ; 

 The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum. 

 Delivering o'er to executors pale 

 The lazy, yawning drone." — 



Shakspeaee's Henry V., Act 1., Scene 2. 



