The study of the geographical distribution of natural objects has a more universal bearing, and yields collectively more definite instruction and information than its partial treatment, when restricted to small groups, may at first seem to promise. This, however, is very useful, for it is but by the combination of such special details that the enlarged views are to be obtained, from which theories of the general laws of distribution can be deduced. Of course, small creatures with locomotive capacities will not supply the positive conclusions that may be framed from such objects as are fixed to their abode, and have not the same power of diffusion, although they certainly appear to be generally restrained within particular limits by physical conditions of the earth’s surface subservient to the maintenance of special forms of organic life; and these, once determined, would yield and derive reciprocal illustration. They may be merely climatic, but climate thus indicated cannot be estimated by zones, or belts, or regions; for they seem to traverse all these, and follow undulations not specially appreciable except in the results they exhibit. Unfortunately the bees have been too imperfectly collected, and too irregularly registered, to admit of arriving at any precise conclusions with respect to them. All that can as yet be done will be to combine the scanty notices afforded by the contents of our collections, in the hope that their promulgation may induce collectors, who happen to have the often extremely rare opportunity of examining distant countries, to avail themselves of the happy chance, which may never recur, or only at long intervals. Nor can I too impressively reiterate the importance of noting both special localities, altitude, temperature, season, flora, etc., as being all conducive to the widest instruction upon the subject. Indulging in the hope that travellers will act upon these suggestions, and thus considerably add to the value of what they may industriously collect, we must patiently await until time brings it about. Encouraging this expectation, I have summarily collected, under their topical arrangement, the notices which precede, but which are there arranged in the generic order of the bees.