INTRODUCTION. 1x 
Bee for the ejection of its poison. So high 
did the ancients carry their admiration of this 
tiny portion of animated nature, that one 
philosopher, it is said, made it the sole ob- 
ject of his study for nearly three-score years ; 
another retired to the woods, and devoted 
to its contemplation the whole of his life; 
while the great Latin poet, stating, and pro- 
bably adopting, a prevalent opinion, speaks 
of the Bee as having received a direct ema- 
nation from the Divine Intelligence. After 
all this study, however, these enthusiastic 
admirers have thrown but little light on the 
real nature of this extraordinary insect ; and 
while they have handed down to us many 
judicious precepts for its practical treatment, 
their disquisitions on its natural history can 
now only excite a smile. The chief cause 
of this failure may be fairly ascribed, per- 
haps, to the want of those facilities for dis- 
covery, which modern science has afforded, 
and by which the most hidden mysteries of 
Bee economy are rendered clear and palpable. 
In fact, much has been written and pub- 
