and an inferior quality is obtained after this, by heating the fragments of comb, and again pressing them.

Honey is always more rich and delicate, and has a finer flavour, while still in the comb, than it ever has after being separated from it by any process. Some allusion to this difference seems intended by King David, when, in the nineteenth Psalm, speaking of the law and the judgments of the Lord as contained in the Scriptures, he declares, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb." David seems here to compare the honey with gold while still mingled with the dross, and the fine or pure gold with the more delicious honey in the comb. The same distinction be referred to by Solomon when recommending the pursuit of wisdom in the Proverbs: "My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste."

may

To teach us the well-known lesson that hunger sweetens the most common repast, we are also told by the same sacred writer, "The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing

is sweet." How often do persons complain of their food, and find fault with it, only because they have no healthful appetite, and perhaps have been spoiled with dainties!

CHAPTER XIII.

INSTINCT OF THE BEE.

How has the little bee obtained the knowledge she possesses? She has not gained it by experience. She has not tried, first one plan, and then another, for her curious works, and then decided upon that which, on the whole, she thought to be best. This could not be. She was not taught these skilful arts by other bees, older and wiser than herself. No: each little bee as well understood, at the beginning of her life, how to perform her allotted task, as she did at the close. She is provided with the instruments ready for her work, and she uses them properly. She begins the work of her life in the right way; and in the same way she carries it on, with the most perfect order and system, till, in a few short months, it is all ended.

The wondrous faculty which this insect enjoys, to

direct all its proceedings, is called instinct. It is given to her, and to other insects and inferior creatures, by the Creator of the world. This gift is all the teaching which they need. It is their guide in all things, and keeps them from mistake.

Thus the bee is taught to prepare the wax, to build her cells, to collect the honey, and to store it away. Thus she is taught to arrange the different cells, where the queen-bee is to lay eggs, to produce the workers, the drones, and the royal young. Thus the queen herself knows where to place the eggs; and the nursebees how to take care of them, and at the proper time to give nourishment to the little ones as they are hatched. The bees are thus taught to divide their labours; the wax-makers, the nurses, and the honeygatherers, each attending to their own work. Without gaining that skill from practice which is called experience, and without instruction from other bees, or imitating them, the little creature goes on to do always what is best for itself, best for the family or society of bees in which it lives, and best for man, who is to enjoy much of the fruit of its labours. It goes on

uniformly too, and builds in the same way now that bees built thousands of years ago.

All classes of animals have instinct, which teaches them many things necessary for them to know, to preserve their lives, to provide for their young, and to defend them; but none of them appear so well furnished, with instincts so various, so refined and perfect, as the insect races. No wild beast of prey, no bird, nor fish, can weave a net to catch its enemies or friends, and keep them for its food, so cunningly as can the little spider! And what larger animals can be thought of, who, living together in one society, build cities for themselves, with streets and dwellings in regular order, and warehouses for provisions, and there lay up a store sufficient for the wants of all the inhabitants of the city in a future season? Which of them can be compared with our wise little insect, the bee, who does all this, and much more? The crafty spider, with its web, has indeed singular wisdom and skill, but it can never be thought to equal the wonderworking bee!

The bees not only do those things right which