166 SPKING. 



numerous, until satisfied that it is no safe place among 

 them to make a shroud and remain helpless two or 

 three weeks. Accordingly, when they get their 

 growth they leave, get on the board on the bottom, 

 become chilled and helpless in the morning, but again 

 active by the middle of the day. Now, if they are 

 merely thrown on the earth, a place there will be 

 selected, if no better is found, for transformation ; and 

 a moth perfected ten feet from the hive is just as 

 capable of depositing five hundred eggs in your hive, 

 as if she had never left it. 



Several generations are matured in the course of 

 one summer; 'Consequently, one destroyed at this 

 season, may prevent the existence of thousands before 

 the summer is over. 



This is another subject of theoretical reasoning, and 

 imposition, (at least in my opinion.) I wish the 

 reader to judge for himself; get rid of whims and 

 prejudice, and look at the subject candidly and fair ; 

 and if there is no corroborative testimony comes up 

 to confirm any position that I assume, I shall not 

 complain if my assertions fare no better than some 

 others. Only defer j udgment till you hnow for yourself. 



Bees have ever received my especial regard and at- 

 tention ; and my enthusiasm may blind my judgment. 

 I may be prejudiced, but will not be wilfully wrong. 

 I have found so many theories utterly false, when 

 carried out in practice, that I can depend on no one's 

 hypothesis, however plausible, without facts in prac- 

 tice to support it. No one should be fully credited 

 without a test. To return to our subject. 



