14 
BRITISH BEES. 
they go. To facilitate this fecundation of plants, which 
is Nature’s prime object, bees are usually more or less 
hairy ; so that if even they limit themselves to imbibing 
nectar, they involuntarily fulfil the greater design by 
conveying the pollen from flower to flower. To manj' 
insects, especially flies, some flowers are a fatal attrac¬ 
tion, for their viscous secretions often make these insects 
prisoners, and thus destroy them. To the bees this 
rarely or never happens, either by reason of their supe¬ 
rior strength, or possibly from the instinct which repels 
them from visiting flowers which exude so clammv a sub- 
stance. It is probably only to the end of promoting 
fertilization by the attraction of insects that the struc- 
V 
ture of those flowers which secrete nectar is exclusively 
•/ 
conducive, and which fully and satisfactorily explains 
the final cause of this organization. 
To detect these things, it is requisite to observe 
nature out of doors,—an occupation which has its own 
rich reward in the health and cheerfulness its promotes,—* 
and there to watch patiently and attentively. It is only 
by unremitting perseverance, diligence, and assiduity 
that we can hope to explore the interesting habits and 
peculiar industries of these, although small, yet very 
attractive insects. 
Amongst the early blossoming flowers most in request 
with the bees, and which therefore seem to be great 
favourites, we find the chickweed (Alsine media), the 
primrose, and the catkins of the sallow ; and these in 
succession are followed by all the flowers of the spring, 
summer, and autumn. Their greatest favourites would 
appear to be the Amentacece, or catkin-bearing shrubs and 
trees, the willow, hazel, osier, etc., from the male flowers 
of which they obtain the pollen, and from the female 
