342 CONCLUSION. 



neighboring bar-room, is unfit for this business. But how 

 can he, who has a home, and finds his interest divided be- 

 tween that and tlie idle attractions of the tavern, and 

 wishes to withdraw from unprofitable associates, employ 

 his time with a better prospect of success than in the care 

 of '^ees ? ' They make ample returns for every attention. 



And the gain may not be altogether pecuniary. A great 

 many points in their natural history are yet vmdiscovered, 

 and the truth of many others disputed. "Would it not be 

 a source of satisfaction to be able to contribute a few more 

 facts ujDon this interesting subject, and thus hold a share 

 in the general fund of scientific knowledge ? 



Granting all the mysteries pertaining to their economy 

 to be discovered and elucidated, precluding all necessity 

 of further investigation, would the study be dry and mo- 

 notonous ? On the contrary, the daily verification of es- 

 tablished facts would be so fascinating and instructive, 

 that we could not avoid a sentiment of pity for the condi- 

 tion of that man who finds gratification only in the gross 

 and sensual. 



It has been remarked that " he who cannot find in this 

 and other branches of natural history a salutary exercise 

 for his mental faculties, inducing a habit of observation 

 and reflection, a pleasure so easily obtained, unalloyed by 

 any debasing mixture — tending to expand and harmonize 

 his mind, and elevate it to conceptions of the majestic, 

 sublime, serene and beautiful arrangements instituted by 

 the God of Nature, must possess an organization sadly 

 deficient, or be surrounded by circumstances indeed la- 

 mentable." I would recommend the study of the honey- 

 bee, as one best calculated to awaken the interest of the 

 indifferent. What can arrest the attention like their or- 

 ganism — their diligence in collecting stoves for the future 

 — their secretion of wax and formation of it into struc- 

 tures with a mathematical precision astonishing the pro- 



