GENERAL HISTORY OF BEES. 
23 
clothing of the perfect insect display themselves through 
its pellucid envelope. When arrived at perfect matu¬ 
rity, and ready to commence the part it has to perform 
in the economy of nature, it bursts its cerements, mak¬ 
ing its way through the dorsal covering of its silken 
skin, and, leaving the exuviie behind, it crawls forth 
from its dormitory, when, becoming invigorated by the 
bracing air and the genial sunshine, it stretches its legs 
and expands its wings, and flies forth jubilant, rejoicing 
in its awakened faculties. 
The Imago .—The bee having attained its majority, 
loses no time in quitting the confined abode wherein it 
has been hitherto secluded. It comes forth prepared to 
undertake the cares, and meet the vicissitudes of exist¬ 
ence. The new life that now opens to it is one appa¬ 
rently teeming exuberantly with every delight. It 
dwells in sunshine and amidst flowers; it revels in their 
sweets, attracted by their beautiful colours and their 
delightful odours ; and the consummation of its bliss is 
to find a congenial partner. With him it enjoys a brief 
connubial transport, but which is speedily succeeded by 
life-long labour, for the cares of maternity immediately 
supervene. 
I believe the wild bees are not polyandrous, and there¬ 
fore many males, if there be any preponderating dis¬ 
crepancy in favour of that sex, must die celibate. But 
the fact of finding the males associated together in great 
numbers upon the same flowers or hedges, is certainly 
not conclusive of this being the case. To provide a 
fitting receptacle, furnished with suitable provision, for 
its future progeny, occupies all the subsequent solicitude 
of the female. 
As frequent reference will hereafter be made to 
