GEOGRAPHY OF THE GENERA. 
79 
the natural flowers which attract these stray comforters, 
will one day spring where the salt of tears now desolates, 
and thus the merry bees have sweetness for even these 
poor outcasts, and froth their bitter cup with bubbling 
hope. 
In the south of Europe the genus occurs in Austria, 
the island of Zante, and the Pvrenees. It is found in 
Syria, the island of Java, in China at Cliusan and Silhet, 
and also in northern India; and, although crossing the 
tropics to fix itself at Monte Video, at the mouth of 
Rio de la Plata, in Africa it appears to be found at Oran 
only: nor does it occur in Australasia. In South 
4/ J 
America it is also found at Para and Cayenne, and on 
the opposite side at Columbia, Quito, and Chili, and 
passes up the isthmus to California, and thence to Mexico, 
whence it extends to the island of Antigua. 
The genus Apis, or the Hive Bee,— which perhaps in 
its past and present utility to man, may successfully 
compete in the aggregate with the silkworm,—with 
true regal dignity comes the last of the series of genera. 
The whole array of her precursors, wdio marshal her 
w r ay, and derive their significance and importance from 
the more or less direct resemblance in structure and 
function to her, deduce their common name of “Bees” 
from this relationship, and consequently from her. 
Long before their existence had been traced by the ob¬ 
server of nature or by the naturalist, the comb of the 
«/ ' 
Bee had dropped in exuberant luxuriance its golden 
stores for the gratification of mankind. This little crea¬ 
ture had garnered, from sources inaccessible to man, the 
luscious nectar concealed within the bosom of the flower, 
w hose exquisitely beautiful varieties, in form, colour, and 
