THE HONEY BEE; ITS NATURAL HISTORY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND MANAGEMENT. BY EDWARD BE VAN, M. D. WITH THIRTY-FIVE ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD, BY R. S. GILBERT. PHILADELPHIA: CAREY AND HART. 1843. ADVERTISEMENT. In the advertisement prefixed to the former edition of this work, I called for ingenuous criticism upon my lucubrations, and most ably as well as agreeably has that call been responded to. It introduced me to an acquaintance and correspondence with some of the first scientific and practical Apiarians and Naturalists of the day, and elicited a variety of contributions in the way of correction and suggestion, and also a considerable accession of fresh matter. Some one, speaking on the subject of Huber's defective vision, said he regarded it as an advantage, on account of the necessity which it imposed upon him to avail himself of the assistance of others, whereby it so happened that he had the benefit of two pair of eyes instead of one! Whatever may be thought of this remark, the advantage which I have possessed, in extent of observation, will I am sure be admitted. Huber had the benefit of two pair of eyes in one Apiary; I have had the advantage of at least six or seven pair in as many different Apiaries; and over one of them has presided a scientific observer, who, together with a genius but little if at all inferior to Huber's, combines a courage and perseverance which place him quite upon a level with Burnens; I allude to Mr. R. Golding,* of Hunton, near Maidstone. To the Rev. W. Dunbar also, of Applegarth Manse, Dumfrieshire, this edition of my work is indebted for many valuable suggestions, both on points of physiology and practice. Various hints and the results of sundry experiments have likewise been received from other intelligent Naturalists and Apiarians, particularly from T. A. Knight, Esq., of Downton; Edward Newman, Esq., of Deptford; Sir J. G. Dalyell, of Edinburgh; Mr. Harman, of Cranbrook; Mr. Humphrey, of Staplehurst; and Mr. Dewey, of Melton Mowbray. Although situated at considerable distances from each other, our operations may be said to have been combined; the object of my fellow-labourers and myself has been to elicit facts. Like the alchemists of old, we have thrown our materials into each other's crucibles, and submitted them to the test of experiment; but, unlike the alchemists, we have produced the results we sought for, and by comparing our several products, have proved by their similarity, the accuracy with which the different processes were conducted, and have thereby verified the facts which they were instituted to ascertain. Under these advantages the work once more seeks the notice of the public; and once more calls upon it for ingenuous criticism. * To this gentleman I desire to express my especial acknowledgment for the assistance which I received from him, as regards the rationale of piping and the philosophy of swarming. |