BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



CHAPTER I. 



HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY BEE. 



The Bee is considered by naturalists as belonging 

 to what are called perfect societies of insects, and in 

 entomological arrangements is placed in the order 

 of Hymenoptera, genus Apis. Every association or 

 colony of bees comprises three descriptions of indi- 

 viduals, and each description is distinguished by an 

 appearance and cast of character peculiar to itself. — 

 (Bevan.) 



THE QUEEN. 



The queen, as she is now generally called (the 

 mother bee would be a much more appropriate name 

 to designate the functions which properly belong to 

 her in the economy of the hive), is without doubt 

 the most important personage in the association, or 

 colony; not from any useful labor which she per- 

 forms in building combs, storing honey, or anything 

 of this kind, nor yet for enacting laws and dictating 



(11) 



