The Life of the Bee 
whereto it has had to conform.) The 
difference 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 
1 The scientific classification of the domestic bee is 
as follows: 
Clas . . . . . «. « Insecta 
Order . . . . =. ~~ =~. Hymenoptera 
Family. . . . . . . Apide 
Genus. . . . . . . Apis 
Species. 2. . . .  Mellifica 
The term ‘« Mellifica’’ is that of the Linnzan 
classification. It is not of the happiest, for all the 
Apide, with the exception of certain parasites per- 
haps, are producers of honey. Scopoli uses the 
term “ Cerifera’’’ ; Réaumur ‘< Domestica ’’ ; Geof- 
froy “‘Gregaria.””’ The <*Apis Ligustica,’’ the 
Italian bee, is another variety of the «* Mellifica.’’ 
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