preface* 



EXPLANATORY. 



I must say a few Trords in explanation of tlie somewhat 

 novel form wMch my new "Bee-Book" lias taken, and 

 which, doubtless, wiU be a surprise to the many Bee-Friends 

 who are waiting with exemplary patience for the second 

 edition of my original "Bee-Book," soon about to appear 

 after an interval of thirty years from the publication of 

 the first edition. 



I happened last year to be at the Cologne Station^ 

 waiting for the train, and employed my spare time in looking 

 over the book stall for something to read on my way to 

 Aix-la-Chapelle. The stall was covered with books about 

 the late War. I had returned from a visit to the Battle 

 Fields of 1870, and was sick of the subject. I wanted some- 

 thing of a more peaceful nature, and I was turning away, 

 without making a purchase, when a book met my eye entitled 

 Schnurrdiburr. What that might mean I knew not, but the 

 second title, oder die Bienen, was intelligible, and had attrac- 

 tion enough for me. I opened it, and saw it was profusely 

 illustrated with very comical cuts. I paid my Thaler and 

 carried away my prize. 



The cuts are reproduced in the book which my readers 

 have in their hands. The verses were written up to the 

 pictures rather than translated from the German text; for 

 alas ! my G-erman is very limited ; enough for travelling 



