The Life of the Bee 



whereto it has had to conform.* The 

 diiFercnce between these various species 

 is scarcely greater than that between an 

 Englishman and a Russian, a Japanese 

 and a European. In these preliminary 

 remarks, therefore, we will confine our- 

 selves to what actually lies within the 

 range of our eyes, refusing the aid of 

 hypothesis, be this never so probable or 

 so imperious. We shall mention no facts 



* The scientific classification of the domestic bee is 

 as follows : 



Class Insecta 



Order Hymenoptera 



Family Apidse 



Genus Apis 



Species Mellifica 



The term "Mellifica" is ^that of the Linnjean 

 classification. It is not of the happiest, for all the 

 Apidz, with the exception of certain parasites per- 

 haps, are producers of honey. Scopoli uses the 

 term " Cerifera " ; Reaumur "Domestica" ; Geof- 

 frey " Gregaria." The "Apis Ligustica," the 

 Italian bee, is another variety of the "Mellifica." 



