18.2 
BRITISH BEES. 
The table will suffice for distinguishing the male Apis 
from all other male Apidcs, and which has a further 
peculiarity exhibited by no other of our native bees, in 
the conjunction upon the vertex of the compound eyes, 
in front of which, upon the frons, the simple eyes or 
ocelli are placed in a very slightly curved line. 
These indications are enough to enable the beginner 
to work his way smoothly, and a little practice will soon 
render these observations superfluous. 
The economy of nature is so perfect that wherever 
we can trace a difference, we may assume that a reason 
and a purpose exist for the variation. Thus we do not 
know why some bees have three submarginal cells to 
their wings, and others only two. Nor do we know 
what governs their variety of shape. The deficiency we 
might think implied inferiority; but this cannot be, for 
those with most frequently the smaller number, viz. the 
artisan bees, are, in the majority of cases, the most 
highly endowed, and have the most special habits. 
In the relative numbers of the maxillary and labial 
palpi, there are remarkable differences, the reason for 
which we cannot trace, for, as before observed, we do 
not know even their function, which would perhaps 
guide us to other views. Their normal numbers are six 
maxillary, and four labial palpi. The latter take re¬ 
markable relative development and peculiarity of inser¬ 
tion and form, especially in the Apidce ; but throughout 
the whole series of our bees, they are never reduced to 
fewer than their normal number, whereas the maxillary 
palpi never have similarly large development of struc¬ 
ture, and are variously modified in number and consis¬ 
tency from the typical or normal condition. 
Thus in Eucera and Melecta there are but five joints; 
