BRITISH BEES. 
(IIYHENOPTERA.) 
CHAPTER I. 
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, 
COMPRISING GENERAL REMARKS UPON THE TJSES OP BEES IN THE 
ECONOMY OE NATURE ; THEIR DIVISION INTO SOCIAL AND SOLI¬ 
TARY ; AND A NOTICE OF THEIR FAVOURITE PLANTS. 
It is very natural that the “ Bee ” should interest the 
majority of us, so many agreeable and attractive associa¬ 
tions being connected with the name. It is immediately 
suggestive of spring, sunshine, and flowers,—meadows 
gaily enamelled, green lanes, thymy downs, and fragrant 
heaths. It speaks of industry, forethought, and compe¬ 
tence,—of well-ordered government, and of due but not 
degrading subordination. The economy of the hive has 
been compared by our great poet to the polity of a 
populous kingdom under monarchical government. He 
says :— 
cc Therefore doth Heaven divide 
The state of man in divers functions, 
Setting endeavour in continual motion ; 
B 
