Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/244

214] as double that portion in the morning. Those, however, who lead an idle and luxurious life, are too much the slaves of fashion, habit, and caprice, to adopt any useful changes, which might abridge their amusements or imaginary comforts.

On the other hand, the studious, and especially speculative persons, cannot comply with what are generally called "regular hours;" because their pursuits are better adapted to the solemn stillness of night, while they indulge in reflections which require a connected series of thought, and reasoning, uninterrupted by the noise of day. Yet, even literati and artists, ought to pay due attention to this important circumstance, that the atmosphere of the night is always more vitiated, and consequently less fit for respiration, than that of a serene day; and as we respire a greater portion of air while awake, than in a sleeping state, it follows that the system must be more injured in the former than in the latter case.

Nor would it be proper to retire to rest immediately after a full meal, or in an agitated state of mind. Hence, two hours after a light supper ought to elapse, in order to prepare ourselves for an invigorating repose, and banish all gloomy or depressing ideas and thoughts which require mental exertion. For the same reason, we should remove from our sight every object which may irritate the nerves, and never adopt that pernicious practice of reading, till we fall asleep—an imprudence of which many young and thoughtless persons are guilty. Instead of such a dangerous expedient, it would be more salutary to walk up and down the room for a few minutes, or to take any other gentle exercise.

Lastly, we are of opinion, that such individuals as breakfast at nine, dine at two, and drink tea at six; or, instead of this, eat a light supper between seven and eight o'clock, might with the greatest benefit to their health, retire to bed at ten, and rise at five or six o'clock in the morning, or earlier, according to the degree of exercise they have taken on the preceding day.—See farther—;, and.  BEE, or Apis, in natural history, a genus of insects, of which the mellifica, or domestic honey-bee, is particularly worthy of attention.

I. Economy, Instincts, &c.

A hive of bees may be considered as a populous city, containing from fifteen to eighteen thousand inhabitants. This city is in itself a monarchy: composed of a queen; of males, which are the drones; and of working bees, called neuters. The combs are composed of pure wax, serving as a magazine for their stores, and a place to nourish their young. Between the combs there is a space sufficient for two bees to march abreast; and there are also transverse defiles, by which the bees can more easily pass from one comb to another.

The queen-bee is distinguishable from the rest, by the form of her body. She is unwieldy, and seldom leaves the parent-hive; but when she goes to settle a colony, all the bees attend her to the place she choses. A hive of bees cannot subsist without a queen, as she produces their numerous progeny; hence their attachment to her is unalter-