62 On the Genus Paradoxornis. 



possible that none of the marked bees might have been spring bred ; 

 but, taken in conjunction with the facts detailed as having been no- 

 ticed by myself, illustrating as they do the theory which precedes 

 them, I think it may be received as strongly confirmatory of the 

 opinion that the working bee's life is much shorter than has usually 

 been supposed, as it seems highly probable that at least some of the 

 bees marked by Reaumur, if not all, were the produce of the spring 

 laying, and whether or not the varnish and the bees had disappear- 

 ed together, no doubt he observed in November a very manifest di- 

 minution in the populousness of the family. 



It now only remains that I should advert to the longevity of the 

 queen-bee, and upon this point the evidence which we possess is suf- 

 ficiently ample to justify a decisive statement. The experiments 

 of Huber, Delia Rocca, Dunbar, and Golding, have clearly proved 

 that her majesty sees many generations pass away before she quits 

 the stage herself. Huber, though he only speaks positively of her 

 life's being extended to two years, was of opinion, I believe, that 

 it might reach to four or five ; and the three latter naturalists, by 

 marking their queens, have traced them from hive to hive, through 

 a period of nearly four years ; a coincidence, in point of time', which, 

 while it justifies the opinion of Huber, speaks strongly in favour of 

 the diligent and accurate observation of Delia Rocca, Dunbar, and 

 Golding. Delia Rocca's queen had accidentally lost a leg in being 

 hived, the others were distinguishable by having had one of their 

 antennae clipped, neither of which bereavements prevented the ful- 

 filment of every royal function. 



VII. — On Ike Genus Paradoxornis. By J. Gould, F. L. S., &c. 



Central Asia, with its varied regions, constitutes a country, 

 perhaps second to none for the novelties it continues to unfold to 

 the contemplations of the inquiring naturalist ; the great elevation 

 of its mountains afford a temperature reduced to that of the arctic 

 regions, while from its comparative southern latitude, its plains 

 possess all the features of the torrid zone. Between these extremes 

 it may be said to represent every variety of temperature. In the 

 rich valleys of various altitudes, coated with the finest alluvial soil, 

 and constantly irrigated by streams from the surrounding hills, such 

 a mass of luxuriant vegetation is produced as can be only imagined 

 by those who have visited this highly favoured country. 



The most important inference that has been drawn from our know- 

 ledge of this fine portion of the world, is, that temperature rather 



