INTRODUCTION. Vll 



fooleries, possesses but a very slight claim indeed to the 

 character of a profound or accurate naturalist. We are 

 bold enough to declare, that the discoveries of Huber 

 are not only improbable, but even impossible ; and it 

 is on the basis of that knowledge that we have so 

 unequivocally expressed our dissent to the principal 

 points of the theory of Huber. We have, however, 

 fearlessly thrown down the gauntlet to the advocates 

 of Huber, and although we may stand single-handed 

 in the contest, we fight under the banners of truth, 

 and as such we despair not of the victory. 



If an individual, with the view of acquiring some 

 knowledge of the natural history of the bee, or of 

 its management, consult the works published by the 

 " Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," the 

 " Naturalist's Library," the works of Bagster, Bevan, 

 or any of the periodicals which casually treat upon the 

 subject, will he not rise from the study of them with 

 his mind surcharged with falsities and mystification ? 

 Will he not discover throughout the whole of them a 

 servile acquiescence in the opinions and discoveries of 

 one man, however at variance those opinions and dis- 

 coveries may be with truth or probability; and if he 

 enter upon the discussion with his mind free from 

 prejudice, will he not experience that an outrage has 

 been committed upon his reason, in calling upon him 

 to give his assent to positions and principles, which at 

 best are merely assumed, but to which he is called 

 upon dogmatically to subscribe his acquiescence as the 

 indubitable results of experience, skill, and ability ? 

 Huber may have attempted to amuse and astonish 

 a 4 



