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CHAPTEK I.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,
COMPBISING GENERAL REMARKS UPON THE USES OE BEES IN THEECONOMY OE NATURE; THEIR DIVISION INTO SOCIAL AND SOLI-TARY; AND A NOTICE OE THEIR FAVOURITE PLANTS.
IIt is very natural that the “Bee” should interest thenmajority of us, so many agreeable and attractive associa-tions being connected with the name. It is immediatelyssuggestive of spring, sunshine, and flowers,—meadowsggaily enamelled, green lanes, thvmy downs, and fragranthheaths. It speaks of industry, forethought, and compe-t tence,—of well-ordered government, and of due but notddegrading subordination. The economy of the hive hasbbeen compared by our great poet to the polity of appopulous kingdom under monarchical government. Hes says :—
<{ Therefore doth Heaven divideThe state of inan in divers functions,
Setting endeavour in continual motion ;
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