10 
BRITISH BEES. 
etc., yet many which are not thus to be distinguished, 
will have to wait long for their special appellation. 
The first breathings of spring bring forth the bees. 
Before the hedge-rows and the trees have burst their 
buds, and expanded their yet delicate green leaves to 
the strengthening influence of the air, and whilst only 
here and there the white blossoms of the blackthorn 
sparkle around, and patches of chickweed spread their 
bloom in attractive humility on waste bits of ground in 
corners of fields,—they are abroad. Their hum will be 
heard in some very favoured sunny nook, where the 
precocious primrose spreads forth its delicate pale blos¬ 
som, in the modest confidence of conscious beauty, to 
catch the eye of the sun, as well as— 
“ Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, 
And take the wdnds of March with beauty.”— SJiaJcspeare. 
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The yellow catkins of the sallow, too, are already 
swarmed around by bees, the latter being our northern 
representative of the palm which heralded “ peace to 
earth and goodwill to man.” The bees thus announce 
that the business of the year has begun, and that the 
lethargy of winter is superseded by energetic activity. 
The instinctive impulse of the cares of maternity 
prompt the wild bees to their early assiduity, urging 
them to their eager quest of these foremost indicators 
of the renewed year. The firstling bees are forthwith 
at their earnest work of collecting honey and pollen, 
which, kneaded into a paste, are to become both the 
cradle and the sustenance of their future progeny. 
Wherever we investigate wonderful Nature, we observe 
the most beautiful adaptations and arrangements,— 
everywhere the correlations of structure with function; 
