"Ah! see, where, robbed and murdered, in that pit Lies the still-heaving hive! at evening snatched, Beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night, And fixed o'er sulphur; while, not dreaming ill, The happy people, in their waxen cells, Sat tending public cares, and planning schemes Of temperance, for winter poor; rejoiced To mark, full flowing round, their copious stores. Sudden, the dark, oppressive steam ascends; And, used to milder scents, the tender race By thousands tumble from their honeyed domes, Convolved and agonising in the dust." It will be our pleasing task, in subsequent chapters; to show "a more excellent way." [Illustration] CHAPTER II. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. § I. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. ALTHOUGH the principal object in compiling the present work has been to induct our readers into the way of keeping bees according to the most recent and approved methods, it requires little apology for thus apparently deviating from such prescribed course by devoting a small portion of our space to a description of the anatomy of the wonderful little creatures whose labours all our contrivances are intended to assist, especially since a knowledge of their habits is not only interesting to the bee-keeper, but enables him to conduct his apiary in accordance therewith. In a treatise of this kind, intended to be of a popular character, we shall endeavour to place these details before our readers in a concise and simple manner, avoiding as much as may be technical terms, and referring those who wish to go more deeply into this branch of the subject to the works of Kirby and Spence, Samuelson, etc. In the course of our descriptions we shall frequently refer to the steel engravings, Plates I. and II., drawn by Mr. E. W. Robinson, artist to the Entomological Society of London, who has most carefully dissected bees we sent him for the purpose, subjected these dissections to the microscope, and skilfully produced the accompanying illustrations, which will so much assist the purpose we have in view. These delineations are so clear that a little explanation will suffice to impart a full understanding of the various parts of the bee. Because the bee is so small an insect we are not to neglect investigating its organisation. "The bee is little among such as fly, but her fruit is the chief of sweet things." The enlightened Boyle, when contemplating the wonders of Nature, declared that his astonishment had been more excited by the mite than by the elephant; and that his admiration dwelt "not so much on the docks as on the _watches_ of creation."[16] [Footnote 16: Dr. Bevan.]