INTRODUCTION. 



of interest, and, it may be, some not unimportant 

 moral lessons. 



In the hope of enlarging popular knowledge of 

 these wonderful insects, and so of increasing api- 

 culture, we have written this book. It does not 

 profess to go exhaustively into the practical part of 

 bee-keeping ; but enough information is given for 

 ordinary apiarian purposes. 



The excellent publications of Langstroth, Cowan, 

 Cheshire, Neighbour, Hunter, Taylor and Wood will 

 supply all details intentionally omitted from the pre- 

 sent treatise. To several of the above writers, and 

 to some others mentioned at the end of Chapter I., 

 the author desires to express his obligations for 

 numerous facts. 



Many of the most important illustrations in 

 Chapters XI. and XIV., and the whole of those 

 in Chapter XXVI. have been taken, by permission, 

 from the diagrams published by the British Bee- 

 keepers' Association. These diagrams are reductions 

 from drawings made by Mr. Frank Cheshire, who is 

 so well known as having devoted many years to the 

 study of apiculture, especially on its scientific side. 

 To the same gentleman is also due the discovery 

 of many of the physiological marvels given in 

 Chapters XL and XIV., and of the chief facts 

 embodied in the chapter on " Bees in relation to 

 Flowers." 



B 2 



