10 EARLY HISTORY OF THE BEE. 



The Bee is the most active and industri- 

 ous of all insects, and it is to its labour 

 that we are indebted for the honey and 

 wax, which form not only an important 

 branch of our rural economy, but are very 

 valuable articles of our import trade. The 

 order, which predominates in the different avocations of the 

 honey bees, — their mode of government — their indefatigable 

 industry — the exquisite skill displayed by them in the con- 

 struction of their works, and the acknowledged utility of 

 their labours, have attracted towards them the attention of 

 both ancient and modern philosophers, some of whom have 

 employed the greater part of their life in the study and con- 

 templation of their nature and mysteries. Some individuals, 

 however, allowing themselves to be led away by the seduc- 

 tive power of enthusiasm, have endowed the common bees 

 with the faculty of performing the most extraordinary 

 miracles, and amongst that class, Huber certainly holds the 

 most prominent rank. Tn the dark and unenlightened age, 

 in which Butler wrote his female monarchy, science had 

 made but few and very slow advances on the road to truth ; 

 — the faint glimmer of its light was seen breaking through 

 the dark clouds of despotism and superstition, and shining 

 to future ages as the harbinger of a glorious day : — we are 

 therefore, disposed to look upon the works of the writers of 

 those days, with the eye of lenity and indulgence ; but when 

 in the enlightened era of the nineteenth century, we meet 

 with individuals, who, having the fountains of knowledge, 

 science, and research flowing profusely around them, and to 

 whom the road is distinctly and clearly pointed out, by 

 which they can confirm or refute the results of that research, 

 by means of personal observation and experience : we repeat 

 it, that when we meet with individuals, who, under such 

 favourable circumstances, can still allow themselves to be 

 led away by spurious and fallacious authorities, and thereby 



