134 Mr. Hunter’s Observations on Bees. 
trees, under projecting exposed surfaces, when they swarm, 
we should be inclined to suppose that they were animals of a 
warm climate ; yet their providing liberally for the change of 
climate, or rather for a change of season, would, on the con- 
trary, make us believe they were adapted for changeable cli- 
mates ; or rather, these two circumstances should make us 
suppose they were fitted for both ; and their universality 
proves it. And I do conceive, that in a pretty uniform 
warm climate, their oeconomy may be somewhat different 
from what it is in the changeable, as they would not be under 
the same necessity to lay up so much store, and probably 
might employ their cells in breeding, for a much longer pe- 
riod: however, a good climate agrees with them best, as also 
a good season in an indifferent climate, such as Britain. We 
find the common bee in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. 
That they may be, or should be in the three first, is easily 
supposed, but how they came to America is not so readily con- 
ceived; for although a kind of manageable animal, yet they do 
not like such long confinement in their hives, as would carry 
them to the West Indies, excepting in an ice-house ; for when 
I have endeavoured to confine them in their hives, they have 
been so restless as to destroy themselves. 
The female and the working bee, I believe, in every species 
have stings, which renders them an animal of offence, indeed, 
but rather of defence ; for although they make an attack, I be- 
lieve it is by way of defence, excepting when they attack one 
another, which is seldom or never with their stings. As this 
belongs more to the labourers, it shall be considered when I 
treat of them in particular. Of the whole bee tribe, the com- 
mon bee is the easiest irritated ; for as they have property. 
