Of our fish and insects there has been nothing like a full description or collection. More of them are described in Catesby than in any other work. Many also are to be found in Sir Hans Sloane's Jamaica, as being common to that and this country. The honey-bee is not a native of our continent. Marcgrave, indeed, mentions a species of honey-bee in Brazil. But this has no sting, and is therefore different from the one we have, which resembles perfectly that of Europe. The Indians concur with us in the tradition that it was brought from Europe; but when, and by whom, we know not. The bees have generally extended themselves into the country, a little in advance of the white settlers. The Indians, therefore, call them the white man's fly, and consider their approach as indicating the approach of the settlements of the whites. A question here occurs, How far northwardly have these insects been found? That they are unknown in Lapland, I infer from Scheffer's information, that the Laplanders eat the pine bark, prepared in a certain way, instead of those things sweetened with sugar. "Hoc comedunt pro rebus saccharo conditis." Scheff. Lapp. c. 18. Certainly if they had honey, it would be a better substitute for sugar than any preparation of the pine bark. Kalm tells us[44] the honey-bee cannot live through the winter in Canada. They furnish then an additional fact first observed by the Count de Buffon, and which has thrown such a blaze of light on the field of natural history, that no animals are found in both continents, but those which are able to bear the cold of those regions where they probably join. FOOTNOTES: [3] 2 Buffon Epoques, 96. [4] Hunter. [5] D'Aubenton. [6] Buffon, xviii. 112 edit. Paris, 1764. [7] Buffon, xviii. 100, 156. [8] viii. 134. [9] It is said that this animal is seldom seen above thirty miles from shore, or beyond the 56th degree of latitude. The interjacent islands between Asia and America admit his passing from one continent to the other without exceeding these bounds. And in fact, travellers tell us that these islands are places of principal resort for them, and especially in the season of bringing forth their young. [10] I. 233, Lon. 1772. [11] Ib. 233. [12] l. xxvii. [13] XXIV. 162. [14] XV. 42. [15] I. 359. I. 48, 221, 251. II. 52. [16] II. 78. [17] I. 220. [18] XXVII. 63. XIV. 119. Harris, II. 387. Buffon, Quad. IX. 1. [19] Quad. IX. 158. [20] XXV. 184. [21] Quad. IX. 132. [22] XIX. 2. [23] Quad. IX. 41.