Mr. Kirby, I suppose, was induced to associate in the same section Panurgus and Nomada, from their resemblance in general habit, which in both conforms to the type predominant in the Andrenidæ, although they are thence dislocated by the differences in the important organs of the mouth, which verify in this case the seeming paradox of a part being greater than the whole; for these are certainly of greater relative importance to the economy of the creature than mere general habit, and to which all the peculiarities of structure finally converge, for the purpose of giving it what it thence acquires, its own proper and distinctive place in the series of created beings.
The most extensive work since published upon bees generally, is that treating of the Hymenoptera universally, written by Le Pelletier de St. Fargeau, and comprised in four thick octavo volumes, contained in the ‘Suites à Buffon.’ In this work both the genera and species of our bees occur, of course conjunctively with the rest, but its utility, especially to the beginner, is materially diminished by the peculiar systematic views of the author. The distribution of the Order is framed chiefly upon the economy of the insects, which is not so tangible as structure, and blends very heterogeneous forms,—widely separating, in some cases, structural affinities, and sometimes uniting discordant habits. Wasps and bees we here find intermingled, and to commence study with this work would much perplex the student. It can be used beneficially only when some progress has been made in the pursuit.
The only British entomologists who have treated of the bees since the time of Mr. Kirby, are Stephens, Curtis, Westwood, and Smith,—the first in his elaborate ‘Catalogue of British Insects,’ published in 1829; and the second in his ‘Guide to the Arrangement of British Insects,’ published in 1837. The arrangement of the family of bees in both these works is exceedingly arbitrary and without any obvious reason, either as regards the consecutive order of the genera or species. This originated possibly in their personal rivalry, which led them to make their systems as dissimilar as they could, and as unlike the true order as they could well dispose them. Both arrangements are certainly far beneath criticism.
In the Synopsis of Westwood, at the end of his ‘Guide to the Classification of Insects,’ published in 1840, and in Smith’s ‘Catalogue of the British Bees, contained in the Collections of the British Museum,’ published in 1855, we have Latreille’s distribution, with slight modifications, to which I shall not advert at present, but which I shall discuss in my next chapter, where I shall introduce the arrangement I myself propose for the combination of the genera of British bees.
CHAPTER VIII.
A NEW ARRANGEMENT OF BRITISH BEES, WITH ITS RATIONALE, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY, SUBFAMILIES, SECTIONS, AND SUBSECTIONS.
If perfection of instinct, and an organization exquisitely moulded to a complete adaptation to the many delicate and varied functions of that instinct, as well as to the exercise of every faculty incidental to the class, be certainly a proof of pre-eminence, we may justly claim this position for the Order Hymenoptera. There is no characteristic in which they are deficient, nor any in which some of the members of the Order do not transcend in aptitude the insects of all the others.
If they have not been placed at the head of the class Insecta, it has been because systematic convenience did not permit the transposition, on account of the interruption it would have caused to the convenient linking of the rest in a consecutive arrangement. Yet are they the most volatile fliers, the most agile runners, the most skilful burrowers, and consummate architects.
The beauty resulting from the combinations of symmetry of form, elegance of motion, brilliancy of colour, and vivacity of expression, is to be found exclusively amongst them. Either in the velocity of their flight, or in its playful evolutions and graceful undulations, they are unsurpassed, and they hover in the execution of their designs with pertinacious perseverance. No insect structure can more thoroughly exemplify the most appropriate adaptation to its uses, and the most admirable elegance in the formation of the means of execution.
I thus claim for them, and which I think I may without infraction of dispute, the distinctive rank amongst insects.