As, however, every colony of Bees, wherever domiciled, whether in a box, or in a cottage-hive, in the roof of a house, or in the trunk of a hollow-tree, is under an admirable government, the presiding head and Sovereign of which is a QUEEN,--as no colony of Bees, deprived of its QUEEN, ever prospers, or long survives such loss,--as this insect government, or government of insects, exhibits to man the most perfect pattern of devoted attachment, and of true allegiance on the part of the subject Bees to their Sovereign, and of industry, ingenuity, prosperity, and apparently of general happiness in their well-ordered state,--and as these most curious and valuable little creatures have hitherto been most cruelly treated--have been, and still are, annually sacrificed by millions, for the sake of their sweet treasure; I do feel a pleasure, and think there is a sort of analogical propriety, in dedicating to your Gracious Majesty this work, the leading feature of which is--Humanity to Honey-Bees. Under your Majesty's fostering and influential Patronage, I cannot but anticipate that this object will be essentially promoted, and that the management of Bees, in this country at least, will not hereafter reflect disgrace upon their owners. In this pleasing hope, I humbly beg to subscribe myself, YOUR MAJESTY'S most dutiful and most grateful Subject and Servant, THOMAS NUTT. Moulton-Chapel, Lincolnshire, Nov. 27th, 1832. PREFACE.