,transcriber ,note ,text emphasis is denoted by ,italics and ,small ,caps4 ,,the ,,honey-,,bee4 ,,the ,,honey-,,bee4 ,illustration ,what well appointed commonwealths6 where each ,adds to the stock of happiness for all2 ,wisdom's own forums6 where professors teach ,eloquent lessons in their vaulted hall6 ,galleries of art6 and schools of industry6 ,stores of rich fragrance6 ,orchestras of song6 ,what marvellous seats of hidden alchymy6 ,how oft when wandering far and erring long1 ,man might learn truth and virtue from the ,,bee6 ,bowring4 ,,the ,,honey-,,bee2 ,,its ,,natural ,,history1 ,,physiology ,,and ,,management1 ,,by ,,edward ,,bevan1 ,m4,d4 ,a bee amongst the flowers in spring1 is one of the cheerfullest objects that can be looked upon4 ,its life appears to be all enjoyment3 so busy and so pleased4 ,paley4 ,,london3 ,,baldwin1 ,,cradock ,,and ,,joy4 #ahbg4 ,,printed ,,by ,,richard ,,taylor1 ,,shoe-,,lane1 ,,london4 ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,,richard ,,walond1 ,,rector ,,of ,,weston ,,under ,,penyard ,,and ,,treasurer ,,of ,,the ,,cathedral ,,church ,,of ,,hereford4 ,dear ,sir1 ,to whom can ,i with so much propriety dedicate the following sheets as to you1 who1 in the elegant retirement of private life1 have occupied so many of your leisure hours in studying the conomy and management of ,bees1 and to whom1 by the aid and encouragement you have afforded me1 is mainly to be attributed the commencement1 progress1 and completion of the work8 ,i know of no one2 and have therefore to request that you will allow me to offer you this public testimony of my gratitude and respect2 and believe me to be ,your faithful and obliged friend1 ,,edward ,,bevan4 ,woodland ,cottage1 ,april #eth1 #ahbg4 ,,advertisement4 ---- ,the work which is now submitted to the judgement of the public1 in addition to other faults with which it will no doubt be justly chargeable1 may be thought by many to be defective in arrangement2 and if the author had aimed to produce a purely scientific work1 he would consider such charge as being well founded3 but in making a humble attempt to afford a popular view of the present state of apiarian knowledge1 historical1 physiological and practical1 he conceived that he should most effectually attain his object by mingling the different departments together1 particularly where the two former would serve to illustrate or explain the rationale of the latter4 ,moreover1 his first intention was not to offer much more to the public than is contained in ,part ,i4 of the work2 but the materials grew upon his hands1 and consequently after that part was modelled1 he was induced by the very great interest which was excited in his mind by the prosecution of his inquiries1 to exceed the limits which bounded his original plan3--the result will be found in ,part ,,ii4 ,the subject would have admitted of still further extension2 but to have increased the volume beyond its present size would have been to defeat one of the objects of the author1 which was so to compress his matter as to place his book within the reach of as many as possible of those to whom he flatters himself it may prove practically useful4 ,should the public1 however1 require a second edition1 and sufficing reasons urge him to place this series of bee-knowledge under distinct heads1 he will endeavour to re-model it1 as well as otherwise to improve it1 by such alterations as ingenuous criticism may suggest4 ,,introduction4 ---- ,although the great addition which has of late been made to our knowledge of the honey-bee1 may seem to render a reference to ancient writers comparatively unimportant2 yet a few prefatory observations1 upon the rise and progress of apiarian science1 may not be out of season4 ,the natural history and management of bees would probably occupy the attention of man at an early period4 ,surrounded by a boundless variety of living creatures1 he would naturally be led to notice their habits and conomy2 and no part of the animal world1 or at any rate no part of the world of insects1 would be more likely to engage his consideration than the honey-bee4 ,honey would1 in all probability1 constitute one of his earliest luxuries2 and as he advanced in civilization1 he would1 as a matter of course1 avail himself of the industry of its collectors1 by bringing them as much as possible within his reach2 and by this means he would take an important step towards an acquaintance with entomology4 ,but the progress made by our earliest progenitors1 in this or any other science1 is involved in the obscurity and uncertainty necessarily appertaining to the infancy of society4 ,the first indications of attention to natural history are contained in the ,old ,testament4 ,the interest which it excited in the mind of ,solomon1 evinces how highly it was esteemed in his time4 ,the records of its first progression are however entirely lost1 and no regular history of this science exists prior to the days of ,aristotle1 who under the auspices and through the munificence of his pupil ,alexander the ,great1 was enabled to prosecute with the greatest advantage1 for the time in which he lived1 his experiments and inquiries into every department of natural history4 ,alexander felt so strong a desire to promote this object1 that he placed at the disposal of ,aristotle a very large sum of money1 and in his ,asiatic expedition employed above a thousand persons in collecting and transmitting to him specimens from every part of the animal kingdom4 ,aristotle is therefore to be regarded as having laid the first foundation of our knowledge of that kingdom4 ,he must likewise have derived great advantages from the discoveries and observations of preceding writers1 to whose works he would probably have easy access4 ,no individual naturalist could1 without such assistance1 have produced so valuable and extensive a work on natural science as that which ,aristotle has bequeathed to posterity4 ,and though the opinions of himself and his contemporaries have been transmitted to us in an imperfect manner1 and abound in errors1 still he and his editor ,theophrastus may be regarded as the only philosophical naturalists of antiquity1 whose labours and discoveries present us with any portion of satisfactory knowledge4 ,the observations of ,aristotle on the subject of the honey-bee were afterwards embellished and invested with a species of divinity1 by the matchless pen of ,virgil1 in his fourth ,georgic2 and it excites feelings of regret1 that poetry which for its beauty and elegance is so universally admired1 should be the vehicle of opinions that are founded in error4 ,aristomachus of ,soli in ,cilicia had his contemplations for nearly sixty years almost solely occupied by bees2 and ,philiscus the ,thracian spent a great portion of his time in the woods1 that he might investigate their manners and habits without interruption2 whence he acquired the name of ,agrius4 ,however small their contribution of knowledge may appear to this enlightened age1 these ancient worthies must have aided the early progress of their favourite science1 and are at all events evidences of the zeal with which it was prosecuted in their day4 ,about the commencement of the ,christian ra1 ,columella1 who was a very accurate observer and exhibited considerable genius as a naturalist1 made some curious and useful remarks upon bees in his ,treatise ,de ,re ,rustic3 but ,columella1 like ,virgil1 appears to have acquiesced in and copied the errors of his predecessors4 ,after him the elder ,pliny gave a sanction to the opinions which he found prevalent1 and added to them others of his own4 ,but ,pliny1 though a laborious compiler1 occupied himself with too great a variety of pursuits to attain excellence in any4 ,as a naturalist1 however1 he is happy in some of his descriptions4 ,to him we are indebted for the transmission to us of all that was actually known1 or supposed to be known1 of natural history in his day4 ,i say--supposed to be known1 for many of the opinions and conjectures which he has put forth1 have been shown by modern investigators to be ill-founded4 ,the notions of the ancients respecting natural philosophy rested on no rational foundation2 ideas of charms and of planetary influence directed their most important pursuits1 and led to the formation of very absurd theories4 ,when the writer last named recommends that the dust in which a mule has rolled should be sprinkled on persons who are violently in love1 as a sovereign remedy for amatory ardour1 and gravely tells us that snakes are sometimes produced from the human medulla1--with much nonsensical stuff of the like kind2 we may safely pronounce that he or his contemporaries or both were very credulous1 and that the science of experimental philosophy was scarcely cultivated among them4 ,after the compilation of ,pliny's vast ,compendium1 nearly fourteen hundred years rolled away without anything being done for entomology or for natural history in general4 ,the ,arabians1 who alone preserved a glimmer of science during those dark ages that succeeded the fall of the ,roman empire1 cultivated natural history only as a branch of medicine1 and from their writings little can be gleaned in furtherance of our present object4 ,on the revival of learning in the fifteenth century1 and after the discovery of the art of printing1 various editions were published of the works on natural history1 written by the ,withers of that science4 ,sir ,edward ,wotton1 ,conrade ,gesner1 and others1 produced conjointly a work on insects1 the manuscripts of which came into the possession of ,dr4 ,thomas ,penry1 an eminent physician and botanist in the reign of ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,after devoting fifteen years to the improvement of the work1 the ,doctor died1 and the unfinished manuscripts were purchased at a considerable price by ,mouffet1 a contemporary ,english physician of singular learning1 who with great labour and at great expense arranged1 enlarged1 and completed the work4 ,when nearly ready for the press1 he also died2 and the papers1 after lying buried in dust and obscurity for several years1 at last fell into the hands of ,sir ,theodore ,mayerne 7,baron d',aubone71 a court physician in the time of ,charles the ,first1 who gave them to the world in #afcd4 ,the arrangement of this work is defective2 but for the period in which it was written1 it is a very complete and respectable ,treatise on ,entomology4 ,it was highly recommended by ,haller2 and as a storehouse of ancient entomological lore it has not yet lost its utility4 ,its pages are embellished with nearly #ejj wood-cuts4 ,an ,english translation of it was published in #afeh4 ,according to ,fabius ,columma1 ,prince ,frederic ,cesi1 president of the ,roman ,academy of ,sciences1 wrote a treatise upon bees2 but the work has not been preserved1 and we are unacquainted with its merits4 ,these authors were succeeded by ,goedart1 ,swammerdam1 ,maraldi1 ,ray1 ,willughby and ,lister1 who by their indefatigable exertions1 towards the close of the #agth century threw very considerable light upon every branch of natural knowledge4 ,goedart spent forty years of his life in attending to the proceedings of insects1 daily conversing with insects1 as he expresses it1 and published in #affb a work on their natural history2 but the plates with which it is embellished form the best part of it4 ,swammerdam published his celebrated work1 ,a ,general ,history of ,insects1 in #dto1 in #affi3 a more enlarged edition in two volumes folio1 containing the history of bees1 was afterwards published in #agcg1 under the auspices of ,boerhaave1 from the manuscript of ,swammerdam4 ,those readers who have patience to wade through these tedious volumes1 will find it rewarded by the attainment of much curious information4 ,maraldi published in the ,memoirs of the ,royal ,academy of ,sciences for #agab1 his account of the manners1 genius1 and labours of the bee4 ,he is said to have been the inventor of glass hives1 and to that invention may be attributed the success of his inquiries4 ,swammerdam founded his system upon what has been called the metamorphotic basis2 and ,ray1 in conjunction with his friend ,willughby1 whom he calls the profoundest of naturalists and the most amiable and virtuous of men1 erected his superstructure on the same basis4 ,in the ,historia ,insectorum of ,ray1 evidently the joint production of himself and ,willughby1 especial attention is paid to the ,hymenoptera3 it contains various interesting observations on their manners and characters2 and the descriptions1 in which he was assisted by the use of very powerful microscopes1 are concise and well drawn4 ,dr4 ,martin ,lister1 in an appendix to ,ray's work1 and in various other writings also1 contributed materially to elucidate the science of entomology4 ,madame ,merian likewise deserves well1 for her industrious pursuit of this subject1 particularly for her beautiful illustration of the metamorphoses of insects in ,surinam4 ,the ,french natural historian ,reaumur stands prominent among the students of entomology1 for the unsurpassed enthusiasm and accuracy with which he has investigated some of its most intricate parts4 ,to him the genus ,apis is under greater obligations perhaps than to any entomologist either of ancient or modern times4 ,see his immortal work1 ,memoires pour servir l',histoire des ,insectes1 in #f vols4 #dto4 #agcb-agdd4 ,about this period also flourished the great1 the illustrious ,linnus1 whose labours diffused light over every department of natural science1 and have justly caused him to be regarded as one of its brightest ornaments4 ,he has generally been considered as the founder of the artificial system of arrangement2 but a very near approach to it was made by that brilliant constellation of naturalists whom ,i have enumerated as having flourished at the close of the #agth century1 and who may probably be regarded as having paved the way1 and prepared materials1 for the formation of his more perfect system4 ,afterwards appeared the works of the celebrated ,bonnet of ,geneva1 the admiring correspondent of ,reaumur1 and the patron and friend of ,huber4 ,this great physiologist became addicted to the study of entomology before he was seventeen years of age1 from reading ,spectacle de la ,nature2 and his decisive experiments upon ,aphides do him the highest credit4 ,his works are universally admired for their candour and ingenuity1 as well as for their manifest tendency to promote the happiness of man1 by exciting in him the love of knowledge and virtue4 ,we now come to the physiological discoveries of ,schirach1 ,hunter and ,huber1 men who have wonderfully advanced the science of entomology1 by a series of experiments most ably conducted1 by the most patient investigation1 and the most accurate and enlightened observation1 and placed it upon the solid foundation of rational induction4 ,several other writers also1 both in systematic works and in periodical publications1 have contributed to throw much light upon the conomy and habits of the bee4 ,of the latter description in our own country may be enumerated ,arthur ,dobbs1 ,esq42 ,thomas ,andrew ,knight1 ,esq42 ,sir ,c4 ,s4 ,mackenzie1 and the ,rev4 ,w4 ,dunbar4 ,hitherto ,i have referred to the writers on natural history in general1 or to the natural historians of bees in particular3 many writers1 however1 have paid great attention to the domestic management of these insects4 ,their culture is indeed an object highly deserving the attention of the agriculturist as well as of the natural philosopher4 ,in the hands of a judicious and moderately attentive apiarian1 they may become a profitable branch of rural conomy3 even the most humble cottager may be made to participate in the benefit of an improved mode of managing them3 and as there is so much to admire in their general conomy and peculiar habits1 the man of leisure may secure to himself a source of pleasing and rational amusement in the possession of an ,apiary2 for the pursuit of apiarian science1 in common with the study of other branches of natural history1 leads to a salutary exercise of the mental faculties1 induces a habit of observation and reflection1 and may sometimes prove a valuable resource for keeping off that tdium vit1 but too frequently attendant upon a relinquishment of active life4 ,no pleasure is more easily attainable1 nor less alloyed by any debasing mixture2 it tends to enlarge and harmonize the mind1 and to elevate it to worthy conceptions of ,nature and its ,author3 ,the men ,whom ,nature's works can charm1 with ,god himself ,hold converse2 grow familiar1 day by day4 ,with his conceptions2 act upon his plan4 ,and form to his the relish of their souls4 ,akenside4 ,in the following ,treatise it has been my endeavour to combine1 as much as possible1 the profitable with the instructive and amusing2 in seeking which object1 ,i have endeavoured to clear the ground before me1 of the wild-flowers of conjecture and hypothesis1 with which the fecundity of the human imagination has strewed it1 and to substitute in their place the less showy but more useful products of experiment and rational deduction1 the growth of which it should be the object of every labourer in the field of science to promote4 ,always bearing in mind that false theories often lead to erroneous practices1 ,i have carefully abstained from an indulgence in theory of a merely speculative kind1 and confined myself simply to offering such opinions to the attention of my readers1 as have been confirmed by repeated experiment and observation1 and to the recommendation of such practices as have been found useful by myself1 or by others on whose reports ,i can place the fullest reliance4 ,among the writers who have improved the domestic management of bees1 may be enumerated ,warder1 ,white1 ,thorley1 ,wildman1 ,keys1 ,bonner and ,huish1 all of whom have devoted many years of their lives to this important object4 ,persevering1 however1 as have been the efforts of the before-named writers to obtain an accurate knowledge of the physiology of bees1 and to discover the best plan for their management1 there is still much to be learned in both these departments1 before the former can be thoroughly understood1 or the latter satisfactorily regulated4 ,i do not presume to imagine that ,i can throw much light upon either of these topics2 but1 judging from the difficulties which ,i have myself encountered in collecting the scattered materials of apiarian science1 ,i think that ,i shall confer a benefit upon future inquirers1 if ,i enable them to possess within a moderate compass such information as can be relied on4 ,strongly impressed by the importance of the subject1 ,i have for several years devoted much of my time to its consideration2 and independently of the pleasure ,i have experienced in the prosecution of it1 as a most interesting branch of natural history1 ,i have considered that by contributing to extend and improve the culture of the bee1 ,i should assist in converting to useful purposes some portions of those products of the earth which might otherwise be dissipated in the air1 washed away by the rain1 or chemically changed by the action of various surrounding substances1 and in either case be rendered comparatively useless4 ,many of the tracts on bees are professedly written for the perusal of the cottager4 ,to him ,i do not so particularly address myself1 as to the more intelligent members of the community2 and so far as ,i am able to succeed in making an impression upon them1 ,i shall consider myself as virtually benefiting the cottager4 ,the latter is generally too much of a machine to be the first to adopt any improvement1 however important2 he is more likely therefore to obtain bee-knowledge from the example or viv voce instruction of his enlightened neighbours1 than through the direct medium of the press4 ,how far ,i may have succeeded in the object ,i propose to myself1 ,i must leave to the decision of my readers4 ,it seems to be generally admitted1 that a ,treatise exhibiting a concise view of the present state of our knowledge of the bee is much wanted2 and this result of an attempt to supply that desideratum ,i now offer to the public1 with a hope that it may not be unworthy of its notice4 ,,corrigenda4 ,page4 ,line4 #aic1 #ag1 for lives read hives4 #bbh1 #b1 after higher flavour add and in its never candying1 nor even losing its fluidity by long keeping4 ,transcriber ,note3 ,above changes were made to text4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ---- ,,part ,i4 ,chap4 ,page4 ,i4 ,the ,history and ,physiology of the ,bee #a ,,ii4 ,the ,apiary #dg ,,iii4 ,the ,bee-house #eb ,,iv4 ,pasturage #ee ,v4 ,honey-dew #ga ,,vi4 ,the ,purchase of ,bees #hj ,,vii4 ,bee-boxes #hc ,,viii4 ,bee-hives #ie ,,ix4 ,comparative ,advantages of ,wooden ,boxes and ,straw ,hives #ajj ,x4 ,leaf ,hives #ajb ,,xi4 ,dividers #ajg ,,xii4 ,storifying #aji ,,xiii4 ,swarming #aae ,,xiv4 ,comparative ,advantages of ,storifying and ,single-hiving #abb ,,xv4 ,symptoms which precede ,swarming #abg ,,xvi4 ,hiving of ,swarms #acf ,,xvii4 ,on removing ,bees from common ,straw ,hives to ,storifying ,hives or ,boxes #adh ,,xviii4 ,super- and ,nadir-hiving by means of ,binders #aea ,,xix4 ,uniting ,swarms or ,stocks #aed ,,xx4 ,proper ,periods of ,deprivation #afb ,,xxi4 ,taking ,money by means of ,dividers #afg ,,xxii4 ,the ,bee-dress #agf ,,xxiii4 ,feeding #agi ,,xxiv4 ,diseases of ,bees #ahd ,,xxv4 ,enemies of ,bees #aii ,,xxvi4 ,exotic ,bees #baj ,,xxvii4 ,separation of ,wax and ,honey #baf ,,xxviii4 ,wax #bbj ,,xxix4 ,honey #bbf ,,xxx4 ,mead #bcf ,,part ,,ii4 ,,xxxi4 ,the ,anatomy of ,bees #bdi ,,xxxii4 ,senses of ,bees #cjb ,,xxxiii4 ,instincts of ,bees #cah ,,xxxiv4 ,on the ,architecture of ,bees #cci ,,xxxv4 ,an ,inquiry into the ,source and ,nature of ,bees-wax #cef ,,xxxvi4 ,pollen #cgj ,,xxxvii4 ,propolis #cge ,,xxxviii4 ,importance of ,bees to the ,fructification of ,flowers #chj ,a ,,general ,,view ,,of ,,the ,,history ,,and ,,physiology ,,of ,,the ,,bee4 ------------ ,,part ,i4 ---- ,,chapter ,i4 ,,history ,,and ,,physiology4 ,the ,bee is considered by ,naturalists as belonging2 to what are called perfect societies of insects1 and1 in entomological arrangements1 is placed in the order ,hymenoptera1 genus ,apis4 ,of this genus there are many species2 ,linnus has enumerated #ee2 in the ,dictionnaire des ,sciences ,naturelles #gj species are characterized2 and ,mr4 ,kirby1 in his ,monographia ,apum ,angli1 has described above #bbj1 natives of ,england4 ,the species to which ,i shall principally call the attention of my readers is the domestic honey-bee4 ,every association of bees comprises three descriptions of individuals2 and each description is distinguished by an appearance and cast of character peculiar to itself4 ,first of the throng and foremost of the whole1 ,one 'stands confest the sovereign and the soul4' ,this couplet may1 to a limited extent1 be applied to other kinds of bees2 but it is more peculiarly applicable to hive-bees1 as amongst them there has never been found1 in any single family1 more than one acknowledged regnant chief1 usually designated by the name of ,queen2 of whom1 as having the highest claim to our attention1 ,i shall first proceed to speak4 ,the queen1 who is at once the mother and the mistress of the hive1 differs1 as ,mr4 ,hunter has observed1 from the royal chiefs of other insects1 such as hornets1 wasps and humble-bees2 for the chiefs of these latter societies seem to work themselves into royalty1 whereas the queen of the hive-bees reigns from her very birth4 ,she is distinguishable from the rest of the society by her majestic movements1 by the great length of her body1 the proportional shortness of her wings1 and her bent sting4 ,her body tapers gradually to a point1 her fangs are shorter1 her head is rounder1 and her trunk not half so long as that of the working bee4 ,her wings extend only half the length of her body1 but are strong and sinewy4 ,her colours also distinguish her as much as her shape2 they are much more distinct2 the back is of a much brighter black2 the concentric rings on the under side of her body are darker1 and the lighter interstitial part of the same region appears of a brighter and more lively hue4 ,the legs also are of a deep golden yellow colour4 ,next in order come the working bees3 these are1 by some1 called neuters or mules2 by others1 female non-breeders4 ,from what will be said hereafter1 ,i think that my readers will consider the latter as the more appropriate title1 the workers being sterile females with undeveloped ovaries4 ,in a single hive the number of these varies from #ab1jjj to #bj1jjj3 they are the smallest members of the community1 are furnished with a long flexible proboscis1 have a peculiar structure of the legs and thighs1 on the latter of which are small hollows or baskets1 adapted to the reception of the propolis and farina which they collect1 and they are armed with a straight sting4 ,upon them devolves the whole labour of the colony2 they rear the young1 guard the entrances1 elaborate the wax1 collect and store the provision1 and build the cells in which it is warehoused1 as well as those that contain the brood4 ,thirdly1 there are the drones or males1 to the number of perhaps #aejj or #bjjj4 ,these make their appearance about the end of ,april1 and are never to be seen after the middle of ,august1 excepting under very peculiar circumstances which will be stated hereafter4 ,they are one-third larger than the workers1 somewhat thicker and of a darker colour2 they have a shorter proboscis and are more blunt at the tail than either the queen or the workers2 the last ring of the body is fringed with hairs1 extending over the tail and visible to the naked eye4 ,they make a greater noise in flying and have no sting2 are rather shorter than the queen but much larger4 ,underneath the tail two small protuberances of a yellowish colour may be seen1 which are regarded as the distinctive marks of their sex4 ,in some swarms no drones are observable3 probably these are first swarms1 which1 being always led off by old queens1 have no occasion for drones1 if there be any truth in the theory to be hereafter stated4 ,illustration3 ,queen4 ,drone4 ,worker4 ,contrary to what occurs in the human species and in other parts of the animal creation1 among bees1 the females alone exhibit activity1 skill1 diligence and courage1 whilst the males take no part whatever in the labours of the community1 but are idle1 cowardly and inactive1 and possess not the usual offensive weapon of their species4 ,the only way in which the drones promote the welfare of the society is a sexual one2 and ,i shall endeavour to show1 in the course of this chapter1 that they serve no other purpose than that of impregnating such of the young queens as may lead forth swarms in the season1 or be raised to the sovereignty of the parent hive4 ,as the drones are never seen settling on any kind of flowers1 nor laying up honey in the cells1 they most probably feed at home1 and fully answer the description given of them by the poet3 ,immunisque sedens aliena ad pabula fucus4 ,virgil4 ,their short proboscis sips ,no luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips1 ,from the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal1 ,nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal3 ,on others toils1 in pamper'd leisure thrive ,the lazy fathers of th' industrious hive4 ,yet oft1 we're told1 these seeming idlers share ,the pleasing duties of parental care4 ,with fond attention guard each genial cell1 ,and watch the embryo bursting from its shell4 ,evans4,a ,footnote ,a3 ,the elegant writer from whose unfinished poem1 ,the ,bees1 ,i have made the above quotations1 was for many years an eminent physician in ,shrewsbury1 but has now retired into ,wales1 where ,i hope he will find sufficient leisure and encouragement to resume the truly classical theme which he has so nearly completed4 ,of the three parts which have been already published1 ,i shall frequently avail myself in the course of this treatise1 as well as of the highly interesting notes which are appended to them4 ,mr4 ,morris of ,isleworth1 in the ,transactions of the ,society for the encouragement of ,arts1 c4 for #agia1 gives it as his opinion that the drones sit upon the eggs1 as the mother lays them2 and says that he has often seen them sit in a formal manner on the combs1 when the brood is hatching1 while the other bees were very busy at work4 ,i suspect that ,mr4 ,morris mistook sleeping for brooding1 and that the drones were only taking a nap4 ,fabricius says that insects never sit on their eggs4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 however1 have observed that the female ear-wig does3 they also make one other exception in favour of the field bug 7,cimex griseus71 but add that these are the only ones4 ,de ,geer has given a very interesting account of both these insects1 particularly of the strength of parental affection exhibited by the females4 ,the female of the former assiduously sits upon her eggs1 as if to hatch them1 and after they are hatched1 broods over the young as a hen over young chickens4 ,and when the eggs of the latter are hatched1 she also1 after the manner of a hen1 goes about with the brood1 consisting of thirty or forty in number and never leaves them3 they cluster round her when she is still1 and follow her closely wherever she moves4 ,besides the three essential members of the bee community1 which ,i have just described1 ,huber has called the attention of the ,apiarian to a fourth kind1 which appear to be only casual inmates of the hive1 from which however they are soon expelled by the workers4 ,he has called them black bees1 and says he first noticed them in two of his hives1 in the year #ahji1 and on several other occasions from that time to the year #ahac4 ,they present a perfect resemblance to the working bees1 excepting in their colour1 which1 in consequence of their being less downy1 appears darker4 ,on dissection1 their internal structure also appears to be the same4 ,huber regards them as imperfect bees1 but leaves to future naturalists an inquiry into their nature and origin4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence have thrown out a conjecture that these black bees may be superannuated bees1 that being no longer capable of contributing towards the labours of the community1 are banished or destroyed by its younger members4 ,they found their conjecture upon the usual effect of superannuation in rubbing off the hair of insects and thereby giving them a darker hue4 ,it is the office of the queen-bee to lay eggs1 which she deposits in cells constructed for their reception by the working bees4 ,these cells vary from one another in size1 7and in the instance of the royal cells1 they also vary in form71 according as they are intended to be the depositories of eggs that are to become drones1 or of those that are to become workers4 ,but for a more particular account of these cells1 ,vide ,part ,,ii4 ,architecture of ,bees4 ,the ,rev4 ,w4 ,dunbar1 minister of ,applegarth1 who has recently added some important particulars to our general stock of knowledge respecting bees1 states that when the queen is about to lay1 she puts her head into a cell1 and remains in that position for a second or two1 probably to ascertain its fitness for the deposit which she is about to make4 ,she then withdraws her head1 and curving her body downwards1 inserts her tail into the cell3 in a few seconds she turns half round upon herself and withdraws1 leaving an egg behind her4 ,when she lays a considerable number1 she does it equally on each side of the comb1 those on the one side being as exactly opposite to those on the other1 as the relative position of the cells will admit4 ,the effect of this is to produce a concentration and conomy of heat for developing the various changes of the brood4 ,the following sketch is taken from a plate given by ,mr4 ,dunbar in the ,edinburgh ,philosophical ,magazine1 to represent the comb upon which his observations were made1 and to show that part of it which was occupied by brood1 the surrounding part of the square being full of sealed honey4 ,illustration ,the eggs of bees are of a lengthened oval shape1 with a slight curvature1 and of a blueish white colour3 they are composed of a thin membrane1 filled with a whitish liquor1 and being besmeared1 at the time of laying1 with a glutinous substance1 they adhere to the bases of the cells1 where they stand upright1 and remain unchanged in figure or situation for four days2 they are then hatched1 the bottom of each cell presenting to view a small white worm or maggot1 with several ventral rings4 ,on its growing1 so as to touch the opposite angle of the cell1 it coils itself up in the shape of a semicircle1 and floats in a whitish transparent fluid1 by which it is probably nourished and enlarged in its dimensions1 till the two extremities touch one another and form a ring4 ,in this state it obtains indifferently the name of worm1 larva1 maggot or grub1 and is fed with farina or bee-bread1 to receive the welcome morsels of which1 it eagerly opens its two lateral pincers4 ,it is the opinion of ,reaumur and others that farina does not constitute the sole food of the bee-larv1 but that it consists of a mixture of farina with a certain proportion of honey and water1 partly digested in the stomachs of the nursing,b bees1 the relative proportions of honey and farina varying according to the age of the young4 ,it is insipid whilst they are very young1 and becomes sweeter and more acescent the nearer they approach maturity4 ,footnote ,b3 ,for an account of these see ,part ,,ii4 ,nature and ,origin of ,bees-wax4 ,schirach imagined that the semen of the male was the food of the larv3 ,bonnet entertained the same opinion1 founded upon his observation that the drones1 in going across the combs1 pass by those cells that contain no maggots1 but stop at those which do1 giving a knock with the tail at them three times4 ,upon this ,mr4 ,hunter observes that three is a famous number6 and we know very well that the development is complete in hives that do not contain a single drone4 ,the larva having derived support in the manner above described1 for four1 five or six days1 according to the season,c1 continues to increase during that period1 till it occupies the whole breadth and nearly the length of the cell4 ,the nursing-bees now seal up the cell1 with a light brown cover1 externally more or less convex1 7the cap of a drone-cell is more convex than that of a worker17 and thus differing from that of a honey-cell1 which is paler and somewhat concave4 ,it is no sooner perfectly inclosed than it begins to labour1 alternately extending and shortening its body1 whilst it lines the cell by spinning round itself1 after the manner of the silk-worm1 a whitish silky film or cocoon1 by which it is encased1 as it were1 in a pod or pellicle4 ,the silken thread employed in forming this covering1 proceeds from the middle part of the under lip1 and is in fact composed of two threads gummed together as they issue from the two adjoining orifices of the spinner,d4 ,when it has undergone this change1 it has usually borne the name of nymph or pupa4 ,footnote ,c3 ,schirach asserts1 that in cool weather the development takes place two days later than in warm4 ,footnote ,d3 ,kirby and ,spence4 ,it may appear somewhat extraordinary that a creature which takes its food so voraciously prior to its assuming the pupa state1 should live so long without food1 after that assumption3 but a little consideration will perhaps abate our wonder2 for when the insect has attained the state of pupa1 it has arrived at its full growth1 and probably the nutriment1 taken so greedily1 is to serve as a store for developing the perfect insect4 ,the bee1 when in its pupa state1 has been denominated1 but improperly1 chrysalis and aurelia2 for these1 as the words import1 are of a golden yellow colour and they are crustaceous2 whilst the bee-nymphs appear of a pale1 dull colour1 and readily yield to the touch4 ,the golden splendour1 to which the above names owe their origin1 is peculiar to a certain species only of the papilio or butterfly tribe4 ,the higher class of entomologists1 following the example of ,linnus1 apply the term pupa to this state of the embryo bee1 a term which signifies that the insect is enveloped in swaddling clothes like an infant1 a very apt comparison4 ,kirby and ,spence have remarked that it exhibits no unapt representation of an ,egyptian mummy4 ,huber's translator says that naturalists of the present day incline to use the name of larva1 in all cases where the worm is not seen under its final aspect4 ,the working bee-nymph spins its cocoon in thirty-six hours4 ,after passing a certain period in this state of preparation for a new existence1 it gradually undergoes so great a change1 as not to wear a vestige of its previous form1 but becomes armed with a firmer mail1 and with scales of a dark brown hue1 fringed with light hairs4 ,on its belly six rings become distinguishable1 which by slipping one over another1 enable the bee to shorten its body whenever it has occasion to do so2 its breast becomes entirely covered with gray feather-like hairs1 which as the insect advances in age assume a reddish hue4 ,when it has reached the twenty-first day of its existence1 counting from the moment the egg is laid1 it quits the exuvi of the pupa state1 comes forth a perfect winged insect1 and is termed an imago4 ,the cocoon or pellicle is left behind and forms a closely attached and exact lining to the cell in which it was spun3 by this means the breeding-cells become smaller1 and their partitions stronger1 the oftener they change their tenants2 and when they have become so much diminished in size1 by this succession of pellicles or linings1 as not to admit of the perfect development of full-sized bees1 they are converted into receptacles for honey4 ,such are the respective stages of the working bee2 those of the royal bee are as follow4 ,she passes three days in the egg and is five a worm2 the workers then close her cell,e1 and she immediately begins spinning the cocoon1 which occupies her twenty-four hours4 ,on the tenth and eleventh days1 as if exhausted by her labour1 she remains in complete repose1 and even sixteen hours of the twelfth4 ,then she passes four days and one-third as a nymph4 ,it is on the sixteenth day therefore that the perfect state of queen is attained4 ,footnote ,e3 ,instead of being nearly horizontal like the other brood-cells1 those of the queens are perpendicular and considerably larger2 in form they are oblong spheroids1 tapering gradually downwards2 their mouths being always at the bottom4 ,vide ,part ,,ii4 ,architecture of ,bees4 ,the male passes three days in the egg1 six and a half as a worm1 and metamorphoses into a fly on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day1 after the egg is laid4 ,the great epoch of laying the eggs of males may be accelerated or retarded by the state of the atmosphere promoting or impeding the collections of the bees4 ,the development of each species likewise proceeds more slowly when the colonies are weak or the air cool1 and when the weather is very cold it is entirely suspended4 ,mr4 ,hunter has observed that the eggs1 maggots and nymphs1 all require a heat above #gj of ,fahrenheit for their evolution4 ,the influence of temperature in developing embryo insects is very strongly illustrated in the case of the ,papilio ,machaon4 ,according to ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 if the caterpillar of the ,papilio ,machaon becomes a pupa in ,july1 the butterfly will appear in thirteen days2 if it do not become a pupa till ,september1 the butterfly will not make its appearance until the following ,june4 ,and this is the case1 say they1 with a vast number of other insects4 ,reaumur proved the influence of temperature1 by effecting the regular changes in a hot-house1 during the month of ,january4 ,he also proved it conversely1 by having recourse to an ice-house in summer1 which enabled him to retard the development for a whole year4 ,the larv of bees1 though without feet1 are not always without motion4 ,they advance from their first station at the bottom of the cell1 in a spiral direction3 this movement1 for the first three days1 is so slow as to be scarcely perceptible2 but after that it is more easily discerned4 ,the animal now makes two entire revolutions1 in about an hour and three quarters2 and when the period of its metamorphosis arrives1 it is scarcely more than two lines from the mouth of the cell4 ,its attitude1 which is always the same1 is a strong curve4 ,this occasions the inhabitant of a horizontal cell to be always perpendicular to the horizon1 and that of a vertical one to be parallel with it,f4 ,footnote ,f3 ,kirby and ,spence4 ,the young bees break their envelope with their teeth1 and1 assisted at first by the working-bees1 proceed to cleanse themselves from the moisture and exuvi with which they were surrounded3 this operation being completed1 they begin to exercise their intended functions1 and in a few minutes are gathering provision in the fields1 loading in life's first hour the hollow'd thigh4 ,m4 ,maraldi assures us that he has seen bees loaded with two large balls of wax1 returning to the hive1 the same day they became bees4 ,we have seen her1 says ,wildman1 the same day issue from the cell1 and return from the fields loaded with wax1 like the rest4 ,the error of ,maraldi and ,wildman in using the term wax instead of pollen1 does not at all affect the accuracy of their observations4 ,as soon as the young insect has been licked clean and regaled with a little honey by its companions1 the latter clean out the cell1 preparatory to its being re-occupied by a new tenant or with honey4 ,with respect to the cocoons spun by the different larv1 both workers and drones spin complete cocoons1 or inclose themselves on every side3 royal larv construct only imperfect cocoons1 open behind1 and enveloping only the head1 thorax1 and first ring of the abdomen2 and ,huber concludes1 without any hesitation1 that the final cause of their forming only incomplete cocoons is that they may thus be exposed to the mortal sting of the first hatched queen1 whose instinct leads her instantly to seek the destruction of those who would soon become her rivals4 ,if the royal larv spun complete cocoons1 the stings of the queens regnant might be so entangled in their silken meshes1 as to be with difficulty disengaged from them4 ,such1 says ,huber1 is the instinctive enmity of young queens to each other1 that ,i have seen one of them1 immediately on its emergence from the cell1 rush to those of its sisters1 and tear to pieces even the imperfect larv4 ,a curious circumstance occurs with respect to the hatching of the queen-bee4 ,when the pupa or nymph is about to change into the perfect insect1 the bees render the cover of the cell thinner1 by gnawing away part of the wax2 and with so much nicety do they perform this operation that the cover at last becomes pellucid1 owing to its extreme thinness1 thus facilitating the exit of the fly4 ,after the transformation is complete1 the young queens would1 in common course1 immediately emerge from their cells1 as workers and drones do2 but the former always keep the royal infants prisoners for some days1 supplying them in the mean time with honey for food1 a small hole being made in the door of each cell1 through which the confined bee extends its proboscis to receive it4 ,the royal prisoners continually utter a kind of song1 the modulations of which are said to vary4 ,vide ,chapter ,,xv4 ,huber heard a young princess in her cell emit a very distinct sound or clacking1 consisting of several monotonous notes in rapid succession1 and he supposes the working bees to ascertain1 by the loudness of these tones1 the ripeness of their queens4 ,huber has suggested that the cause of this temporary imprisonment may possibly be to enable the young queens to fly away at the instant they are liberated4 ,the queen is a good deal harassed by the other bees1 on her liberation4 ,this has been attributed to their wishing to impel her to go off with a swarm as soon as possible1 but this notion is probably erroneous2 it certainly is so if ,huber be correct1 in saying that the swarms are always accompanied by the older queens4 ,the queen has the power of instantly putting a stop to their worrying1 by uttering a peculiar noise1 which has been called the voice of sovereignty4 ,bonner however declares that he never could observe in the queen anything like an exercise of sovereignty4 ,but ,huber's statement was not founded upon a solitary instance2 he heard the sound on various occasions1 and witnessed the striking effect which it always produced4 ,on one occasion1 a queen having escaped the vigilance of her guards and sprung from the cell1 was1 on her approach to the royal embryos1 pulled1 bitten and chased by the other bees4 ,but standing with her thorax against a comb and crossing her wings upon her back1 keeping them in motion1 but not unfolding them1 she emitted a particular sound1 when the bees became1 as it were1 paralysed and remained motionless4 ,taking advantage of this dread1 she rushed to the royal cells2 but the sound having ceased as she prepared to ascend1 the guardians of the cells instantly took courage and fairly drove her away4 ,this voice of sovereignty1 as it has been called1 resembles that which is made by young queens before they are liberated from their cells2 it is a very distinct kind of clicking1 composed of many notes in the same key1 which follow each other rapidly4 ,the sound accompanied by the attitude just described1 always produces a paralysing effect upon the bees4 ,bees1 when deprived of their queen1 have the power of selecting one or more grubs of workers1 and converting them into queens4 ,to effect this1 each of the promoted grubs has a royal cell or cradle formed for it1 by having three contiguous common cells thrown into one2 two of the three grubs that occupy those cells are sacrificed1 and the remaining one is liberally fed with royal jelly4 ,this royal jelly is a pungent food prepared by the working bees1 exclusively for the purpose of feeding such of the larv as are destined to become candidates for the honours of royalty1 whether it be their lot to assume them or not4 ,it is more stimulating than the food of ordinary bees1 has not the same mawkish taste1 and is evidently acescent4 ,the royal larv are supplied with it rather profusely1 and there is always some of it left in the cell1 after their transformation4 ,schirach1 who was secretary to the ,apiarian ,society in ,upper ,lusatia and vicar of ,little ,bautzen1 may be regarded as the discoverer1 or rather as the promulgator of this fact2 and his experiments1 which were also frequently repeated by other members of the ,lusatian ,society1 have been amply confirmed by those of ,huber and ,bonner4 ,mr4 ,keys was a violent sceptic upon this subject 7,see his communications to the ,bath ,society72 so likewise was ,mr4 ,hunter 7,vide ,philosophical ,transactions74 ,but notwithstanding the criticisms and ridicule of the former1 and the sarcastic strictures of the latter1 the sex of workers is now established beyond all doubt4 ,the fact is said to have been known long before ,schirach wrote3 ,m4 ,vogel and ,signor ,monticelli1 a ,neapolitan professor1 have both asserted this2 the former states it to have been known upwards of fifty years1 the latter a much longer period2 he says that the ,greeks and ,turks in the ,ionian ,islands are well acquainted with it1 and that in the little ,sicilian island of ,favignana1 the art of producing queens has been known from very remote antiquity2 he even thinks that it was no secret to the ,greeks and ,romans1 though1 as ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence observe1 had the practice been common1 it would surely have been noticed by ,aristotle or ,pliny4 ,the result of ,schirach's experiments was that all workers were originally females1 but that their organs of generation were obliterated1 merely because the germs of them were not developed2 their being fed and treated in a particular manner1 in their infancy or worm state1 being necessary1 in his opinion1 to effect that development4 ,subsequent experiments conducted under the auspices of ,huber1 have shown1 however1 that the organs are not entirely obliterated4 ,huber has been regarded as a man of a very vivid imagination2 and as his eye-sight was defective1 he was obliged to rely very much upon the reports of ,francis ,burnens1 his assistant2 on both which accounts other apiarian writers have thrown some distrust upon his statements4 ,huish may be reckoned among the number2 he has also made some observations upon ,schirach's theory1 and treated it with much petulance and ridicule4 ,in answer to him and all other cavillers1 ,i shall detail an experiment made by ,mr4 ,dunbar1 in his mirror hive4 ,in ,july1 when the hive had become filled with comb and bees1 and well stored with honey2 and when the queen was very fertile1 laying a hundred eggs a-day1 ,mr4 ,d4 opened the hive and took her majesty away4 ,the bees laboured for eighteen hours before they appeared to miss her2 but no sooner was the loss discovered than all was agitation and tumult2 and they rushed in crowds to the door1 as if swarming4 ,on the following morning he observed that they had founded five queen cells1 in the usual way under such circumstances2 and in the course of the same afternoon1 four more were founded1 in a part of the comb where there were only eggs a day or two old4 ,on the fourteenth day from the old queen's removal1 a young queen emerged and proceeded towards the other royal cells1 evidently with a murderous intent4 ,she was immediately pulled away by the workers1 with violence1 and this conduct on their part was repeated as often as the queen renewed her destructive purpose4 ,at every repulse she appeared sulky1 and cried peep peep1 one of the unhatched queens responding1 but in a somewhat hoarser tone4 7,this circumstance affords an explanation of the two different sounds which are heard1 prior to the issuing of second swarms47 ,on the afternoon of the same day1 a second queen was hatched2 she immediately buried herself in a cluster of bees4 ,next morning ,mr4 ,d4 observed a hot pursuit of the younger queen by the elder1 but being called away1 on his return half an hour afterwards1 the former was dying on the floor1 no doubt the victim of the other4 ,huber has stated that these artificial queens are mute2 but the circumstance noticed by ,mr4 ,dunbar of the two queens1 just referred to1 having answered each other1 disproves that statement4 ,contrary also to the experience of ,huber1 ,mr4 ,d4 found that the cells of artificial queens were surrounded by a guard4 ,i have just adverted to the protection which they afforded to the royal cells1 when assailed by the first hatched queen4 ,that the working bees are females is clear from the circumstance of their being known occasionally to lay eggs4 ,this fact was first noticed by ,riem1 and was afterwards confirmed by the experiments of ,huber1 whose assistant1 on one occasion seized a fertile worker in the very act of laying4 ,it is a remarkable fact that these fertile workers never lay any but drones' eggs4 ,this uninterrupted laying of drones' eggs was noticed by the ,lusatian observers1 as well as by the naturalist of the ,palatinate4 ,bonnet1 on referring to this fact1 supposes there must have been small queens mixed with the workers upon which the experiments were made1 whose office it was to lay male eggs in all hives2 for neither he nor the before-named observers imagined that the workers were ever fertile1 though from the oft repeated experiments1 just alluded to1 they must have regarded them as females4 ,probably the fertility of these workers is occasioned by some royal jelly being casually dropped into their cells1 when grubs1 as they uniformly issue from cells adjoining those inhabited by grubs1 that have been raised from the plebeian to the royal rank2 of course therefore they are never found in any hives but those which have had the misfortune to lose their queen4 ,fertile workers appear smaller in the belly and more slender in the body than sterile workers1 and this is the only external difference between them4 ,if any further proof were required to establish the opinion that working bees are females1 the question has been set at rest for ever1 by the dissections of ,miss ,jurine1 daughter of the distinguished naturalist of ,geneva3 what had eluded the scalpel and the microscope of that penetrating and indefatigable naturalist ,swammerdam1 was reserved for the still finer hand and more dexterous dissection of a lady4 ,miss ,jurine1 by adopting a particular method of preparing the object to be examined1 brought into view the rudiments of the ovaria of the common working bee3 her examinations were several times repeated1 and always with success3 in form1 situation and structure1 they were found to be perfectly analogous to those of the queen-bee1 excepting that no ova could be distinguished in them4 ,m4 ,cuvier1 however1 thinks that he has observed minute chaplets in common bees1 resembling those in the oviducts of queens2 an additional confirmation1 if any were wanted1 of the opinion that workers are females whose organization is not developed4 ,miss ,jurine undertook the delicate task to which ,i have just referred1 at the request of ,m4 ,huber1 who speaks of her as a young lady who had devoted her time and the liberal gifts of nature to similar studies1 and says that she already rivalled ,lyonnet and ,merian2 but adds1 we had soon to deplore her loss4 ,the research was first made to ascertain whether black bees1 which1 when they appear in a hive1 are much persecuted1 were exposed to this persecution in consequence of their sex exciting the jealousy of the queen4 ,the success of the investigation induced this accomplished young lady to extend her dissection to the common workers1 which was crowned with a result equally gratifying4 ,parallel instances have been observed with regard to the humble-bee1 the wasp and the ant1 amongst which1 those that have usually been called neuters are found to be females1 and when fertile1 they1 like the fertile workers in a bee-hive1 produce males universally4 ,having now traced these insects through their regular stages of egg1 larva1 nymph1 until they become perfect bees1 and having noticed the facts which show the working bees to be females1 ,i shall advert to the more intricate and mysterious business of ,impregnation4 ,this is a subject which was long involved in obscurity1 and which indeed is still clouded by some uncertainty4 ,schirach and ,bonner stoutly denied the necessity of sexual intercourse between the queen and the drones1 considering the former as a mother and yet a virgin1 and ,swammerdam was of the same opinion2 he ascribes impregnation to a vivifying seminal aura1 which is exhaled from the drones and penetrates the body of the queen4 ,this opinion arose from his observing a very strong odour to be exhaled1 at certain times1 from the drones2 ,hanc sententiam ratam habuit1 quia organa apum propagini servientia1 sexus utriusque1 rit dissecta1 inter se ita disparia videbantur1 ut congressus ne fieri quidem ullo pacto posset4 ,his opinion with respect to the vivifying influence of the seminal aura also accounted satisfactorily1 to his own mind1 for there being such a prodigious number of drones1 as1 in proportion to their number1 would of course be the intensity of their peculiar odour4 ,reaumur very successfully combated this fanciful doctrine1 and ,huber has confuted it by direct experiment4 ,reaumur inclined to the opinion that there was a sexual intercourse1 though his experiments left that question undecided4 ,arthur ,dobbs1 ,esq4 has given it as his opinion that the queen's eggs were impregnated by coition with the drones1 and that a renewal of the intercourse was unnecessary4 ,he however thought that she had intercourse with several1 instead of with one only1 in order that there might be a sufficient deposition of sperm to impregnate all her eggs4 ,about the beginning of the last century1 ,maraldi broached another hypothesis2 he imagined that the eggs were fecundated by the drones1 after the queen had deposited them in the cells1 similarly to what takes place in the fecundation of fish-spawn4 ,in #aggg that ingenious naturalist ,mr4 ,debraw1 who was apothecary to ,addenbroke's ,hospital at ,cambridge1 also adopted this opinion2 and even so late as the year #ahag ,huish has supported the same doctrine1 and ,i believe does so at the present time4 ,debraw thought he had discovered the prolific fluid of the drones1 in the brood-cells1 which fertilizing the eggs caused them to produce larv4 ,huber repeated the experiments of ,debraw1 and at first gave him credit for the reality of the discovery2 but further and more minute observation convinced him that it was illusory1 and that what he1 as well as ,debraw had taken for seminal fluid1 was nothing more than light reflected from the bottoms of the cells1 when illuminated by the sun's rays4 ,moreover1 it did not escape the acute mind of ,huber1 that eggs were laid and larv hatched1 when there were no drones in existence1 viz4 between the months of ,september and ,april4 ,the two hypotheses just mentioned1 accounted satisfactorily1 to their supporters1 for the prodigious disproportion in the number of the sexes4 ,but ,huber made the experiment of confining the queen and rigidly excluding every male from a hive2 nay more1 he carefully examined every comb1 and satisfied himself that there was neither male nymph nor worm present2 and lest it should be supposed that the fertilizing fluid might be imported from other hives1 he totally confined the bees1 on two occasions1 and still the eggs were prolific2 which proves clearly that their fertility must have depended upon the previous impregnation of the queen4 ,the analogy of wasps is indeed admitted1 by ,huish1 to discountenance the opinion which he entertains in common with ,maraldi and ,debraw4 ,the queen wasp alone1 survives the winter1 and deposits her first eggs in the ensuing spring in combs of her own construction4 ,here then impregnation must have taken place in the preceding autumn1 whilst the eggs were in the ovaria4 ,it was the opinion of ,hattorf1 ,schirach1 and probably also of ,bonner1 that the queen-bee impregnated herself2 but this opinion is too extravagant to require serious refutation3 it arose probably1 from their making experiments upon queens taken indiscriminately from the hives1 and which had previously been impregnated4 ,this no doubt misled ,debraw1 who1 without knowing it1 had chosen for experiment some queens that had had commerce with the males4 ,the experiments of ,huber were made upon virgin-queens1 with whose history he was acquainted from the moment of their leaving their cells4 ,in the course of his experiments he found that the queens were never impregnated1 so long as they remained in the interior of the hive2 but that impregnation always takes place in the open air1 at a time when the heat has induced the drones to issue from the hive2 on which occasions1 the queen soars high in the air1 love being the motive for the only distant journey she ever takes4 ,the rencontre and copulation of the queen with the drone take place exterior to the hive1 says ,lombard1 and whilst they are on the wing4 ,they are similarly constituted with the whole family of flies4 ,a corresponding circumstance may also be noted with respect to the queen-ant2 and ,bonnet1 in his ,contemplations de la ,nature1 has observed that she is always impregnated whilst she is on the wing4 ,the dragon-flies copulate as they fly through the air1 in which state they have the appearance of a double animal4 ,when noon-tide ,sirius glares on high1 ,young ,love ascends the glowing sky1 ,from vein to vein swift shoots prolific fire1 ,and thrills each insect fibre with desire4 ,thence1 ,nature1 to fulfil thy prime decree1 ,wheels round1 in wanton rings1 the courtier bee2 ,now shyly distant1 now with bolden'd air4 ,he woos and wins the all-complying fair3 ,through fields of ether1 veil'd in vap'ry gloom1 ,they seek1 with amorous haste1 the nuptial room2 ,as erst th' immortal pair1 on ,ida's height1 ,wreath'd round their noon of joy1 ambrosial night4 ,evans4 ,the males and the fertile females1 among ants1 are winged insects2 the former1 as in the case of drone bees1 perish a short time after their amours2 and the females1 having alighted upon a spot suitable for the formation of a colony1 cut off their own wings1 as being no longer of any use to them4 7,linnus had observed that the females lost their wings a certain period after impregnation47 ,a domino ,hunter didici1 se bombinatrices sub oculos in coitu junctos1 ut apud muscas mos est1 vidisse4 ,aculeus1 inquit1 articulo temporis ejicitur1 et inter gemina insecta1 dorso femin imponitur4 ,hoc situ aliquandi manent4 ,in the hornet it is the same4 ,if the queen-bee be confined1 though amid a seraglio of males1 she continues barren4 ,prior to her flight1 7which is preceded by the flight of the drones17 she reconnoitres the exterior of the hive1 apparently for the purpose of recognition1 and sometimes1 after flying a few feet from it1 returns to it again3 finally she rises aloft in the air1 describing in her flight horizontal circles of considerable diameter1 till she is out of sight4 ,she returns from her arial excursion in about half an hour1 with the most evident marks of fecundation4 ,excursions are sometimes made for a shorter period1 but then she exhibits no sign of having been impregnated4 ,it is curious that ,bonner should have remarked those arial excursions1 without suspecting their object4 ,i have often1 says he1 seen the young queens taking an airing upon the second or third day of their age4 ,yet ,huish says1 ,it is an acknowledged tact that the queen-bee never leaves the hive1 on any account whatsoever4 ,perhaps ,huish's observations were made upon first swarms2 and these1 according to ,huber1 are uniformly conducted by old queens4 ,swammerdam also made the same observation as to first swarms being always led off by old queens4 ,old queens have not the same occasion to quit the hives that young ones have1--viz4 to have intercourse with the drones2 for1 according to ,huber1 one impregnation is sufficient to fertilize all the eggs that are laid for two years afterwards1 at least4 ,he thinks it is sufficient to fertilize all that she lays during her whole life4 ,this may appear1 to some1 an incredible period2 and ,huish inquires1 admitting that a single act of coition be sufficient to fecundate all the eggs existing in the ovaria at the time1 how those are fecundated which did not exist there8 ,but when we consider that in the common spider1 according to ,audebert1 the fertilizing effect continues for many years2 and that the fecundation of the eggs of the female aphides or green lice1 by the males of one generation1 will continue for a year1 passing1 during that period1 through nine or ten successive generations of females1 the causes for doubt will1 ,i think1 be greatly diminished3 at any rate we are not at liberty to reject the evidence of facts1 because we cannot understand their modus operandi4 ,with respect to the aphis1 ,bonnet says the influence of the male continues through five generations1 but ,lyonnet carried his experiments to a more extended period2 and according to ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 who give it upon the authority of ,mr4 ,wolnough of ,hollesley 7late of ,boyton7 in ,suffolk1 an intelligent agriculturist1 and a most acute and accurate observer of nature1 there may be twenty generations in a year4 ,reaumur has proved that in five generations one aphis may be the progenitor of #e1ijd1ijj1jjj descendants4 ,it may be objected to me here1 that the aphis is a viviparous insect1 and that the experiments which prove what ,i have referred to1 do not therefore bear upon the question4 ,it has been ascertained1 however1 that they are strictly oviparous at the close of the year 7one species is at all times so71 at other times ovo-viviparous2 and in either case the penetrating influence of the male sperm is surely still more remarkable where there has been no immediate commerce with the male1 than in the direct case of the oviparous bee6 ,it has been observed1 however1 that the further the female aphides are removed from the first mother1 or that which had known the male1 the less prolific do they become4 ,in order to put my readers in possession of ,dr4 ,fleming's opinion upon this subject1 ,i will quote what he has said in his ,philosophy of ,zoology4 ,impregnation1 in insects1 appears to take place while the eggs pass a reservoir containing the sperm1 situated near the termination of the oviduct in the vulva4 ,in dissecting the female parts1 in the silk-moth1 says ,mr4 ,hunter1 ,i discovered a bag1 lying on what may be called the vagina or common oviduct1 whose mouth or opening was external1 but it had a canal of communication betwixt it and the common oviduct4 ,in dissecting these parts1 before copulation1 ,i found this bag empty2 and when ,i dissected them afterwards1 ,i found it full4 7,phil4 ,trans4 #agib4 p4 #ahf47 ,by the most decisive experiments1 such as covering the ova of the unimpregnated moth1 after exclusion1 with the liquor taken from this bag1 in those which had had sexual intercourse1 and rendering them fertile1 he demonstrated that this bag was a reservoir for the spermatic fluid1 to impregnate the eggs1 as they were ready for exclusion1 and that coition and impregnation were not simultaneous4 ,linnus thought that there was a sexual intercourse between the queens and the drones1 and he even suspected that it proved fatal to the latter4 ,his opinion1 on both these points1 seems to be confirmed by the experiments of ,huber2 who ascertained by repeated observations on newly impregnated queens1 ,fuci organum1 post congressum1 in corpore femin hsisse1 unde exitus fatalis expectandus est2 ita autem accidere re ver non liquet4 ,apum regina et mater1 says ,mr4 ,kirby1 in sublime fertur maritum infelicem petens1 qui voluptatem brevem vit emat4 ,reaumur thought sexual union necessary to impregnation1 and tried many experiments to ascertain the fact2 such as confining a queen under a glass in company with drones3 and these experiments were repeated by ,huber4 ,both these naturalists witnessed the solicitations and advances of the queens towards the drones1 nihilomins1 coeuntia tempore quovis conspicere non possent4 ,reaumur fancied he saw it2 there is1 however1 very great reason to believe that he was mistaken3 the queens so exposed all proved barren4 ,swammerdam asserted that clipping the wings of queens rendered them sterile1 a fact which militates very much against his own theory of impregnation being produced by a seminal aura1 but strongly confirms the theory of ,huber2 as in all probability the mutilating experiments of ,swammerdam were made upon virgin queens1 which thereby lost the power of quitting the hives4 ,huber found that clipping the wings of impregnated queens produced no effect upon them2 it neither diminished the respectful attentions of the workers1 nor interfered with their laying of eggs4 ,why impregnation can only take place in the open air and when the insects are on the wing1 at present remains a mystery4 ,the young virgin-queens1 generally1 set out in quest of the males1 the day after they are settled in their new abode1 which is usually the fifth day of their existence as queens1 two or three days being passed in captivity1 one in the native hive after their liberation1 and the fifth in the new dwelling4 ,the ancients seem to have been very solicitous to establish for the bees a character of inviolable chastity3 ,pliny observes1 ,apium enim coitus visus nunquam4 ,and ,virgil endeavours to support the same opinion3 ,but of all customs which the bees can boast1 ',tis this that claims our admiration most2 ,that none will ,hymen's softer joys approve1 ,nor waste their spirits in luxurious love3 ,but all a long virginity maintain4 ,and bring forth young without a mother's pain4 ,it was the opinion of most ancient philosophers that bees derived their origin from the putrid carcases of animals4 ,vide ,chap4 ,,ii4 ,some also have supposed them to proceed from the parts of fructification in flowers4 ,virgil1 borrowing as usual from ,aristotle1 among the rest3 ,well might the ,bard1 on fancy's frolic wing1 ,bid1 from fresh flowers1 enascent myriads spring1 ,raise genial ferment in the slaughter'd steer4 ,and people thence his insect-teeming year2 ,a fabled race1 whom no soft passions move4 ,the smile of duty nor the glance of love4 ,evans4 ,to vindicate1 in some measure1 the character of the insect queen1 ,mr4 ,wildman boldly dared to stem the torrent1 and revive the long forgotten idea suggested by ,mr4 ,butler in his ,feminine ,monarchy1 that queens produce queens only1 and that the common bees are the mothers of common bees4 ,but all these fanciful notions must yield to the clear and decisive experiments of ,huber1 who has satisfactorily shown that the queen is the general mother of all2 he has also resolved the causes of former mistaken opinions4 ,many apiarians have found a difficulty in admitting the theory of ,huber1 in consequence of the very great disproportion in the number of the sexes1 there being only one female to several hundred males1 and one impregnation being1 in his opinion1 all that is required to fertilize myriads of eggs4 ,the number of drones may be considered as in accordance1 in some degree1 with the general profusion of nature3 we find her abounding with supernumeraries in a great variety of instances1 in the blossoms of trees and flowers1 as well as in the relative number of one sex to the other among animals4 ,huber conceives that it was necessary there should be a great number of drones1 that the queen might be sure of finding one1 in her excursion through the expanse of the atmosphere1 and run no risk of sterility4 ,in page #bf ,i have stated the opinion of ,mr4 ,dobbs1 that a queen has intercourse with several drones2 and what ,i have also stated upon the authority of ,mr4 ,hunter1 in page #cd1 with respect to the silk-moth and other insects1 gives countenance to that opinion3 nor do ,i see its inconsistency with the discovery made by ,huber4 ,though there is reason to believe that the act proves fatal to one devoted drone1 yet those that are so fortunate as to obtain the first favours of her majesty1 may escape uninjured4 ,if the conjecture which ,i have thus hazarded be correct1 it will appear less surprising that so many drones should be brought into existence4 ,the queen begins to lay her eggs as soon as a few portions of comb are completely formed4 ,by the time that combs five or six inches square are constructed1 eggs1 honey and bee-bread will be found in them4 ,huber states that the laying usually commences forty-six hours after the intercourse with the male2 and that during the eleven succeeding months1 the eggs of workers only are laid2 after which a considerable and uninterrupted laying of drones' eggs commences4 ,this period may be retarded by the temperature of the atmosphere4 ,huber relates an instance where1 the weather having become suddenly cold1 after an impregnation which took place on the #cast of ,october1 that queen did not lay till the ,march following4 ,the effects of retardation will be noticed presently4 ,twenty days after the queen has begun to lay the eggs of drones1 the working bees1 says ,huber1 construct the royal cells1 in which the queens1 without discontinuing the laying of male eggs1 deposit1 at the interval of one1 two or three days1 those eggs from which the queens are successively to spring4 ,this laying of the eggs of drones1 which is called the great laying1 usually happens in ,may4 ,there seems to be a secret relation between the production of these eggs1 and the construction of royal cells3 the laying commonly lasts thirty days1 and regularly on the #bjth or #bast day1 as has been already observed1 royal cells are founded4 ,when the larv1 hatched from the eggs laid by the queen in the royal cells1 are ready to be transformed to nymphs1 this queen leaves the hive1 conducting a swarm along with her4 ,a swarm is always led off by a single queen2 and ,huber remarks that it was necessary for instinct to impel the old queen to lead forth the first swarm2 for1 being the strongest1 she would never fail to overthrow the younger competitors for the throne1 near which the jealous ,semiramis of the hive will bear no rival4 ,the queen1 having finished her laying of male eggs and of royal eggs1 prior to her quitting the old hive1 is ready to commence1 in the new one1 with the laying of workers' eggs1 workers being first needed1 in order to secure the continuance and prosperity of the newly founded commonwealth4 ,the bees that remain in the old hive take particular care of the royal cells1 and prevent the young queens1 successively hatched1 from leaving them1 except at an interval of several days from each departure4 ,but ,i have already adverted to their mode of proceeding on these occasions4 ,vide page #ag4 ,the law of primogeniture is always strictly observed towards these royal insects1 the first-born or princess-royal being always selected to go off with the second swarm1 or to reign over the parent stock1 as the case may be2 and so on with respect to the third and fourth1 or whatever number may issue4 ,it is remarkable that a queen seldom1 if ever1 leads forth a swarm1 except there be sunshine and calm air4 ,such a ferment occasionally rages in the hives1 as soon as the young queens are hatched1 that ,huber has often observed the thermometer placed in the hive1 rise suddenly from about #ib to above #ajd ,fahrenheit4 ,this suffocating heat he considers as one of the means employed by nature for urging the bees to go off in swarms4 ,in warm weather one strong hive has been known to send off four swarms in #ah days4 ,vide ,chap4 ,,xiii4 ,according to ,huber1 the queen ordinarily lays about #ab1jjj eggs in two months1 one impregnation serving1 as has been before stated1 for the whole complement of eggs1 of every description1 which she lays during two years at least4 ,it is not to be supposed that she lays at the rate of #ab1jjj eggs every two months1 but she does so at the principal laying in ,april and ,may3 there is also another great laying in ,august4 ,early in ,november the laying usually ceases4 ,reaumur states the number of eggs laid by a queen in two months at double the amount of ,huber's calculation2 viz4 #bjj a day1 on an average4 ,this variation may have arisen from variety of climate1 season1 or other circumstances4 ,a moderate swarm has been calculated to consist of from #ab1jjj to #bj1jjj1 which is about a two months' laying4 ,schirach says that a single queen will lay from #gj1jjj to #ajj1jjj eggs in a season4 ,this sounds like a great number2 but it is greatly exceeded by some other insects4 ,the female of the white ant extrudes not less than #fj eggs in a minute1 which gives #cfjj in an hour1 #hf1djj in a day1 #b1dai1bjj in a lunar month1 and the enormous number of #baa1ddi1fjj in a year4 ,though she does not lay all the year probably1 yet1 setting the period as low as possible1 her eggs will exceed the number produced by any other known animal in creation4 ,if the impregnation of a queen be by any means retarded beyond the #bjth or #bast day of her life1 a very extraordinary consequence ensues4 ,instead of first laying the eggs of workers1 and those of drones1 at the usual period afterwards1 she begins from the #deth hour to lay the latter1 and lays no other kind during her whole life4 ,it should seem as if the rudiments of the workers' eggs withered in the oviducts1 but without obstructing the passage of the drones' eggs4 ,the only known fact analogous to this is the state of certain vegetable seeds1 which lose the faculty of germination from age1 whatever care may have been taken to preserve them4 ,this retardation seems to have a singular effect upon the whole animal conomy of the queen4 ,the bodies of those queens1 says ,huber1 whose impregnation has been retarded1 are shorter than common2 the extremities remain slender1 whilst the first two rings1 next the thorax1 are uncommonly swollen4 ,in consequence of the shortening of their bodies1 their eggs are frequently laid on the sides of the cells1 owing probably to their not being able to reach the bottom2 the difficulty is also increased by the two swollen rings4 ,in these cases of retarded impregnation and exclusive laying of drones' eggs1 the prosperity of the hive soon terminates2 generally before the end of the queen's laying4 ,the workers receiving no addition to their number1 but on the contrary1 finding themselves overwhelmed with drones1 sacrifice their queen and abandon the hive4 ,these retarded queens seem to have their instincts impaired2 for they deposit their eggs indiscriminately in the cells1 whether originally intended for drones or for workers1--a circumstance which materially affects the size of the drones that are reared in them4 ,there are not wanting instances of royal cells being occupied by them1 and of the workers being thereby so completely deceived as to pay the tenants1 in all respects1 the honours of royalty4 ,this circumstance appears the more extraordinary1 since it has been ascertained that when eggs have been thus inappropriately deposited1 by fertile workers1 they are uniformly destroyed a few days afterwards1 though for a short time they receive due attention4 ,the workers have been supposed by some apiarians to transport the eggs from place to place2--if ever such were the case1 this would seem to be an occasion calling for the practice3 on the contrary1 instead of removing the eggs from the sides to the bottoms of the cells1 for the sake of better accommodation1 this object is accomplished by their lengthening the cells1 and advancing them two lines beyond the surface of the combs4 ,this proceeding affords pretty good evidence that the transportation of eggs forms no part of the workers' occupation4 ,it is still further proved by their eating any workers' eggs1 that a queen may1 at any time1 be forced to deposit in drones' cells1 or drop at random in other parts of the hive2 a circumstance which escaped the notice of former naturalists1 and misled them in their opinion respecting transportation4 ,a somewhat similar circumstance was noticed by ,mr4 ,dunbar in his mirror hive4 7,for an account of this hive see ,chap4 ,x47 ,mr4 ,dunbar observed that whenever the queen dropped her eggs carelessly1 they were eagerly devoured by the workers4 ,now if transportation formed a part of their employment1 they would in these cases1 instead of eating the eggs1 have deposited them in their appropriate cells4 ,it seems very evident therefore that the proper disposition of the eggs is left entirely to the instinct of the queens4 ,the workers having been seen to run away with the eggs1 in order to devour them1 in all probability gave birth to the mistaken notion that they were removing them to their right cells4 ,among humble-bees1 there is a disposition1 among the workers1 to eat the eggs1 which extends even to those that are laid in proper cells1 where the queens often have to contend for their preservation4 ,after the season of swarming1 viz4 towards the end of ,july1 as is well known1 a general massacre of the drones takes place4 ,the business of fecundation being now completed1 they are regarded as useless consumers of the fruits of others labour1 fruges consumere nati2 love is at once converted into furious hate1 and a general proscription takes place4 ,the unfortunate victims evidently perceive their danger2 for they are never1 at this time1 seen resting in one place1 but darting in or out of the hive1 with the utmost precipitation1 as if in fear of being seized4 ,their destruction has been generally supposed to be effected by the workers harassing them till they quit the hive3 this was the opinion of ,mr4 ,hunter1 who says the workers pinch them to and fro1 without stinging them1 and he considers their death as a natural rather than an untimely one4 ,in this ,bonnet seems to agree with ,mr4 ,hunter4 ,but ,huber has observed that their destruction is effected by the stings of the workers3 he ascertained this by placing his hives upon a glass table1 as will be stated under the anatomy of the bee1 article ,sting4 ,reaumur seems to have been aware of this1 for he has remarked that notwithstanding the superiority which the drones seem to have from their bulk1 they cannot hold out against the workers1 who are armed with a poniard which conveys poison into the wounds it makes4 ,the moment this formidable weapon has entered their bodies1 they expand their wings and expire4 ,this sacrifice is not the consequence of a blind indiscriminating instinct1 for if a hive be deprived of its queen1 no massacre takes place1 though the hottest persecution rage in all the surrounding hives4 ,this fact was observed by ,bonner1 who supposed the drones to be preserved for the sake of the additional heat which they would generate in the hive during winter2 but according to ,huber's theory1 they are preserved for the purpose of impregnating a new queen4 ,the lives of the drones are also spared in hives which possess fertile workers only1 but no proper queen1 and likewise in hives governed by a queen whose impregnation has been retarded2 but under any other circumstances the drones all disappear before winter4 ,not only all that have undergone their full transformations1 but every embryo1 in whatever period of its existence1 shares the same fate4 ,the workers drag them forth from the cells1 and after sucking the fluid from their bodies1 cast them out of the hive4 ,in all these respects the hive-bees resemble wasps1 but with this difference2 among the latter1 not only are the males and the male larv destroyed1 but all the workers and their larv1 7and the very combs themselves17 are involved in one indiscriminate ruin1 none remaining alive during the winter but the queens1 which lie dormant in various holes and corners till the ensuing spring1--of course without food1 for they store none4 ,the importance of destroying these mother wasps in the spring will be noticed in another place4 ,morier in his second journey through ,persia 7page #ajj7 has recorded a fact1 which1 though it did not come under his own immediate observation1 was related to him by a person on whose authority he could place full reliance1 and which is directly the reverse of what ,i have stated respecting bees4 ,it is1 that among the locusts1 when the female has done laying1 she is surrounded and killed by the males4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,apiary4 ,the first object of consideration1 in the establishment of an apiary1 is situation4 ,the aspect has1 in general1 been regarded as of prime importance1 but ,i think there are other points of still greater importance4 ,an apiary would not be well situated near a great river1 nor in the neighbourhood of the sea1 as windy weather might whirl the bees into the water and destroy them4 ,it was the opinion of the ancients that bees1 in windy weather1 carried weights1 to prevent them from being whiffled about1 in their progress through the air3 ,virgil has observed that ,they with light pebbles1 like a balanc'd boat1 ,pois'd1 through the air on even pinions float4 ,sotheby's ,georgics4 ,this assertion1 which was probably borrowed by the poet from his predecessor ,aristotle1 and which has since been repeated by ,pliny1 is now ascertained to be erroneous4 ,the error has been noticed by both ,swammerdam and ,reaumur1 and ascribed by them to preceding observers having mistaken the mason bee for a hive-bee4 ,the former builds its nest against a wall1 with a composition of gravel1 sand and its own saliva1 and when freighted with the former article1 may easily have led a careless observer into the erroneous opinion above alluded to4 ,from a similar inaccuracy of observation1 it is probable that flies were confounded with bees by ancient naturalists1 and that from thence arose the absurd notion1 of the latter being generated in putrid carcases1 as we know the former to be2 and this error was most likely confirmed by their having found both honey and bees in the carcases of dead animals1 as recorded in the case of ,samson4 ,though1 for the reasons above stated1 an apiary would not be well situated near a large river1 yet it should not be far from a rivulet or spring3 small ones1 that glide gently over pebbles1 are the most desirable1 as affording a variety of resting places for the bees to alight upon4 ,if neither spring nor streamlet be near1 a broad dish of water should be placed for the bees1 the bottom being covered with small stones or duckweed1 to facilitate their drinking and prevent drowning4 ,this1 in a hot dry season1 is of considerable importance1 as it will save that time1 which must otherwise be spent1 in fetching water from a distance2 for without water1 as will be noticed hereafter1 no wax can be formed4 ,it is of course of the greatest importance that the apiary be situated near to good pasturage1 such as clover1 saintfoin1 buckwheat1 c4--better still if in a garden well stocked with suitable plants4 ,it should be near the residence of the proprietor1 as well for the purpose of rendering the bees tractable and well acquainted with the family1 as for affording a good view of their general proceedings2 if it be so situated that its front may form a right angle with the window of the family sitting-room1 an easy opportunity will be afforded to watch the bustle of swarming4 ,an out-door apiary should admit of being approached at the back part1 to give an opportunity of making observations on the proceedings of the bees1 or to perform any requisite operation upon them4 ,the hives should be placed upon separate stands1 supported by single posts or pedestals1 be raised from sixteen inches to two feet above the ground1 and be three or four feet from each other2 and they should stand quite clear of any wall or fence4 ,the resting-boards should project several inches in front of the hives1 that the bees may have plenty of room to alight1 when they return home loaded from the fields1 and should be screwed down firmly to the tops of the stands1 that the hives may not be overturned by high winds or other accidents4 ,they should be free from the droppings of trees1 from noisome smells and disagreeable noises2 and be guarded as much as possible from the extremes of heat and cold4 ,most apiarians are agreed that the aspect of the apiary should1 in this country1 be more or less southerly1 and that it should be well secured from the north and south-west1 by trees1 high hedges1 or other fences2 this is the opinion of ,wildman1 ,keys1 and ,huish2 ,bonner1 however1 prefers an easterly aspect2 ,huish recommends two points to the east and one to the south4 ,wildman preferred a south-west aspect1 as not tempting the labourers to emerge too early1 and as affording a later light for their return home in the evening4 ,skreen'd from the east2 where no delusive dawn ,chills1 while it tempts them o'er the dew damp lawn1 ,but1 as on loaded wing1 the labourers roam1 ,sol's last bright glories light them to their home4 ,evans4 ,milton says3 ,it is not material in what aspect the stock stands1 provided the sun shines on the hive once in the course of the day1 for that well-peopled hives1 kept dry1 will thrive in most situations4 ,and provided due attention be paid to other circumstances calculated to promote their prosperity1 ,i coincide in opinion with ,milton4 ,some recommend a valley or hollow glen1 for the convenience of the bees returning home with their loads4 ,at any rate care should be taken that no walls1 trees1 houses1 nor anything else1 impede the issuing forth of the bees to their pasturage1 nor obstruct their return in right lines to the hives4 ,they should be able to fly off from the resting-boards at an angle of about forty degrees with the plane of the horizon4 ,to those who1 residing in towns1 may consider it as indispensable to the success of an apiary1 that it should be in the immediate vicinity of good pasturage1 and be thereby deterred from benefiting and amusing themselves by keeping bees2 it may be satisfactory to learn1 that the apiary of the celebrated ,bonner was situated in a garret1 in the centre of ,glasgow1 where it flourished for several years1 and furnished him with the means of making many interesting and valuable observations1 which he gave to the world about thirty years ago4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,bee-,,house4 ,no one that could afford to purchase bee-boxes1 and to construct a bee-house1 or to convert to that use some building already constructed1 would hesitate1 ,i should think1 to give them the preference over common straw-hives and an out-door apiary1 whether he looked to ultimate profit or to present convenience and security4 ,perhaps ,i cannot give a better notion of what ,i consider as the most eligible plan of a bee-house1 than by describing the construction of my own4 ,the whole building1 besides answering the purpose of an apiary1 may be made subservient to other uses2--my own serves for storing potatoes4 ,the potatoe-cellar is sunk two thirds of its depth in the earth1 and the bee-house is raised upon it1 having a couple of steps up to the door4 ,the dimensions of both are seven feet six inches by six feet clear within1 which affords room for five colonies4 ,the piles or stories of bee-boxes are placed in the bee-house at somewhat less than two feet apart1 so as to make the external entrance to each pile respectively1 about a yard asunder4--,see the plate which forms the frontispiece of this work4 ,on the inside of the bee-house1 the boxes in the upper row stand about table height1 those in the lower row1 about six inches above the floor4 ,on the outside1 the entrances to the upper row are about five feet1 the entrances to the lower row about three feet from the ground4 ,the entrances through the wall may be cut in stone1 bricks or wood1 and should be chamfered away on the outside1 leaving the wall at those parts as thin as practicable1 and letting the opening correspond in size with the outlets that are sunk in the floor boards to be hereafter described4 ,the potatoe-cellar is built with bricks1 the bee-house of timber1 lathed and plastered within1 and thatched on the outside4 ,where the bees enter the boxes1 two wooden shelves or resting-boards are fixed1 two or three inches thick1 to prevent warping2 they extend the whole length of the building1 are about a foot wide1 and rest on cross pieces1 nailed fast to the uprights with which the bee-house is built3 these cross pieces extend also about fifteen inches into the bee-house1 where they serve as supporters for the shelves on which the bee-boxes are placed4 ,the resting-boards on the outside are divided1 by bricks on the edge1 into several compartments1 as shown in the frontispiece2 the bricks extend the full width of the resting board1 and all the compartments are slated over4 ,by this means the entrances are well sheltered1 and accommodation is afforded for the bees1 when they are at any time driven home1 by stress of weather1 in greater numbers than can readily pass through the entrances into the boxes2 for on the approach of a storm1 the bees will sometimes return home from the fields1 in such numbers and with such precipitation1 as almost to block up the entrances into the hives4 ,the building is not only thatched on the top1 but down the sides and ends1 as low as the potatoe-cellar4 ,on that side where the bees enter the boxes1 the thatch of course terminates at the top of the compartments1 over which it is spread out so as to conceal the slate coverings4 ,the floor of the bee-house is boarded and the potatoe-cellar is ceiled1 the space between the ceiling and the floor above being filled with dry sawdust4 ,the door may be situated where most convenient2 but the window or windows should be at one end or at both ends1 that the light may fall sideways on the bee-boxes1 and should be made to open1 as in case of any of the bees accidentally getting into the bee-house1 they may be let out more conveniently4 ,it is necessary to have an extra entrance1 or rather an extra outlet1 for discharging the bees when the time of deprivation arrives1 which will be hereafter explained4 ,my own outlet is placed in a line with and between the lower tier of boxes4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,pasturage4 ,it is of the first importance to the success of an apiary1 that it should be in a neighbourhood where the bees can be supplied with an abundance of good pasturage1 as upon that will depend the fecundity of the queen and the harvest of wax and honey4 ,if ,dutch clover 7,trifolium repens7 be neither grown abundantly by the neighbouring farmers1 nor the spontaneous growth of the surrounding country1 the apiarian should1 if possible1 crop some ground with it himself1 as it is one of the grand sources from which bees collect their honey in the spring1 and indeed during a considerable portion of the principal gathering season4 ,from the value of clover in this respect1 one species of it 7,trifolium pratense7 has acquired the name of ,honey-suckle clover4 ,yellow trefoil also 7,medicago lupulina71 though not so great a favourite with the bees as ,dutch clover1 is nevertheless a valuable pasturage for them1 in consequence of its blossoming earlier than the clover4 ,though ,i have made ,dutch clover take precedence of every other bee pasturage1--a precedence which in this country at least it is fairly entitled to1--yet it is by no means the first in the order of the seasons4 ,first the gray willow's glossy pearls they steal4 ,or rob the hazel of its golden meal1 ,while the gay crocus and the violet blue ,yield to the flexile trunk ambrosial dew4 ,evans ,the earliest resources of the bee are the willow1 the hazel1 the osier1 the poplar1 the sycamore and the plane1 all which are very important adjuncts to the neighbourhood of an apiary4 ,the catkins of several of them afford an abundant supply of farina1 and attract the bees very strongly in early spring when the weather is fine4 ,mr4 ,kirby1 in his ,monographia ,apum ,angli1 considers the female catkins of the different species of ,salix as affording honey1 the male ones1 pollen4 ,to these may be added the snowdrop1 the crocus1 white alyssum1 laurustinus1 c4 ,orange and lemon trees also1 and other green-house plants1 afford excellent honey1 and might be advantageously presented to the bees at this season4 ,gooseberry1 currant and raspberry trees likewise1 with sweet marjoram1 winter savory and peppermint1 should not be far off them4 ,from the early blossoming of the two first1 and from their yielding an extraordinary quantity of honey1 they form some of the first sources of spring food for the bees1 and in all probability furnish them with the pale green pellets1 then seen upon their thighs4 ,the peach1 nectarine1 c4 are also valuable1 on account of their blossoming very early4 ,apple and pear trees1 which in ,worcestershire and ,herefordshire1 during several weeks of spring1 seem to form ,one boundless blush1 one white empurpled shower ,of mingled blossoms1 and give those counties the appearance of a perfect paradise1 may be said to constitute a second course for the bees1 after their earlier spring feast on the bloom of the currants1 gooseberries1 and all the varieties of wall fruit4 ,alder buds and flowers are also particularly grateful to bees2 the former are said to afford honey for six months together4 ,the maple and the lime also afford it for a considerable time4 ,dickson1 in his ,agriculture1 states that the blossoms of the bean1 which are highly fragrant1 though affording but a scanty supply of honey1 are nevertheless frequented by crowds of bees4 ,is this1 says ,dr4 ,evans1 an instance of mistaken instinct8 ,the young spotted leaves of the vetch 7,anthyllis vulneraria7 they likewise ply continually for three months together1 as well as its flowers1 even though very distant from their homes4 ,the beans also which prove most attractive to them are those with spotted leaves4 ,from the partiality of these natural chemists for the spotted leaves of the vetch and bean1 ,i suspect that the spotting originates from disease1 which causes those leaves to throw out a honeyed secretion4 ,in this opinion ,i am strengthened by what ,mr4 ,hubbard has stated1 in a paper presented to the ,society of ,arts for #agii1 respecting papilionaceous plants4 ,it is not1 says he1 from the flower1 but a small leaf1 with a black spot on it1 which1 in warm weather1 keeps constantly oozing1 that the bees gather their honey4 ,mr4 ,hubbard also assures us in the same paper that the tare 7,ervum hirsutum et tetraspermum7 is highly useful to bees2 and that several acres1 sown near his apiary1 otherwise badly situated1 rendered it very productive4 ,turnips1 mustard1 and all the cabbage tribe are also important auxiliaries2 their culture is strongly recommended by ,wildman1 as affording spring food to the bees4 ,in the autumn a field of buckwheat becomes a very valuable resource for them1 from its prolonged succession of bloom4 ,buckwheat flowers in bunches1 which contain ripe seeds in one part1 while blossoms are but just opening in another4 ,huber has given his testimony in favour of this black grain1 and ,worlidge says that he has known the bees of a very large apiary fill the combs with honey in a fortnight1 in consequence of being placed near a large field of buckwheat4 ,bees indeed like to have every thing upon a large scale2 whole fields of clover1 beans1 the brassica tribe and buckwheat1 as has been just observed1 attracting them much more strongly than scattered plants1 though affording finer honey1 such as creeping lemon thyme1 mignonette1 c4 ,some flowers they pass by1 though yielding a considerable quantity of honey3 those of the honey-suckle for instance1 though much frequented by the humble-bee1 are never visited by the hive-bee1 the superior length of the proboscis of the former enabling it to collect what is quite out of the reach of the latter4 ,every flower of the trumpet honey-suckle 7,lonicera sempervirens71 if separated from the germen1 after it is open1 will yield two or three drops of pure nectar4 ,in the ,transactions of the ,society of ,arts for #aghi1 ,mr4 ,john4 ,lane speaks of the fondness of bees for leek blossoms1 and says that he raised leeks extensively for their use4 ,your bees will rejoice1 says ,mr4 ,isaac1 when they see the neighbourhood variegated by the blossoms of sunflowers1 hollyhocks and ,spanish broom1 and even the dandelion1 which embellishes the garden of the sluggard4 ,dr4 ,evans observed that bees not only collect farina from the numerous assemblage of anthers in the flower of the hollyhock1 but a balsamic varnish also1 7most likely propolis17 from the young blossom buds1 and says he has seen a bee rest upon the same bud for ten minutes at least1 moulding the balsam with its fore-feet and transferring it to the hinder legs4 ,an elegant modern writer1 speaking of the fondness of bees in general for the flowers of the hollyhock1 observes that it has been held a gross libel upon animals to say1 that a man has made a beast of himself1 when he has drunk to such excess as to lose his reason2 but we might without injustice say1 that he has made a humble-bee of himself1 for those little debauchees are particularly prone to intoxication4 ,round the nectaries of hollyhocks1 you may generally observe a set of determined topers quaffing as pertinaciously as if they belonged to ,wilkes's club2 and round about the flower1 7to follow up the simile17 several of the bon-vivants will be found lying on the ground inebriated and insensible4 ,i have frequently seen the ground beneath one of my pear-trees strewed over with hive-bees and wasps1 in a similar state1 after they had banqueted upon the rich juices of the fallen fruit4 ,mr4 ,kirby1 in his ,monographia ,apum ,angli1 observes that the male humble-bees1 when the thistles are in bloom1 are often seen asleep or torpid upon its flowers1 and sometimes acting as if intoxicated with the sweets they have been imbibing4 ,the holly1 the privet1 phillyrea1 elder and common bramble1 together with sweet fennel1 nasturtiums and asparagus1 are also much frequented by the bees4 ,they are likewise very partial to the yellow flowers of the crowfoot1 as well as to the flowers of the dead nettle1 especially the white4 ,the blossoms of the cucumber1 gourd and vegetable marrow also1 yield a considerable quantity both of honey and farina1 as do likewise those of the white lily4 ,apes state seren ,floribus insidunt variis1 et ,candida circum ,lilia funduntur4 ,virgil4 ,dr4 ,evans speaks of the ,cacalia or ,alpine coltsfoot as affording a great quantity of honey1 the scent of which is often diffused to a considerable distance2 and ,dr4 ,darwin1 in a note to his ,botanic ,garden1 mentions having counted on one of those plants1 besides bees of various kinds1 upwards of two hundred painted butterflies1 which gave it the appearance of being loaded with additional flowers4 ,when o'er her nectar'd couch papilios crowd4 ,and bees in clusters hum their plaudits loud4 ,evans4 ,what is it1 says the anonymous writer whom ,i lately quoted1 that brings the bees buzzing round us so busily8 ,see1 it is this tuft of coltsfoot1 which they approach with a harmonious chorus1 somewhat like the ,non nobis1 ,domine1 of our singers2 and after partaking silently of the luxurious banquet1 again setup their tuneful ,pans4 ,ornamental flowers1 such as roses1 ranunculuses1 anemones1 pinks and carnations1 afford little or no pabulum for bees1 and tulips are probably pernicious to them1 dead bees being frequently found in their flowers4 ,it would be a great acquisition to the bees to have near them a large plantation of borage1 which affords peculiarly delicate honey1 as does also viper's bugloss4 ,the former continues blooming for many months1 and1 bearing a pendant flower1 it is not liable to be washed by rain2 mignonette too1 if sown abundantly1 is a plant of considerable importance to the apiary1 and for a somewhat similar reason1--its continuing in bloom till the autumnal frosts set in1 and its yielding honey of peculiar whiteness and delicacy4 ,instances have been known1 of an abundant crop of these two flowers affording a large supply of honey to the apiary1 near which they were sown1 when1 at the same time1 there was a general failure of all the neighbouring stocks4 ,lemon thyme should be planted in every bee-garden1 wherever room can be afforded for it3 it blossoms late1 7the beginning of ,august17 and affords very fine flavoured honey4 ,it might be advantageously used as an edging for garden walks and flower-beds1 instead of box2 some use thrift and daisies for the same purpose4 ,box has the character of giving honey a bitter flavour1 and ,pliny has observed that the ,romans1 in laying tribute upon ,corsica1 exacted from the inhabitants two hundred pounds of wax1 but wholly excepted honey1 on account of its being flavoured by the box-tree4 ,the common teasel 7,dipsacus sylvestris7 should have a place near every bee-house1 as it not only supplies honey from its rich purple heads1 but yields a seasonable supply of water1 in the cups formed by the leaves at every joint of the stem1 which contain from a spoonful to half a pint of water4 ,this convenience is still more efficiently supplied by the large floating leaves of the water lily1 which should if practicable be introduced near every apiary4 ,as should also the great hairy willow-herb 7,epilobium hirsutum71 a very ornamental though a very common plant1 growing by the sides of rivulets4 ,furze1 broom1 heath and saintfoin1 are good neighbours to an apiary4 ,the blossoms of furze so abound with honey as to be pervaded strongly by the scent of it1 and the broom has been extolled ever since the days of ,pliny4 ,mr4 ,bradley speaks in the highest terms of its blossoms1 as affording a great quantity of honey2 but he greatly prefers the ,spanish broom1 and says that an acre of it would maintain ten stocks4 ,the culture of saintfoin as a bee-pasture is also well worthy of the apiarian's attention in some situations2 for though it flourishes best in a calcareous soil1 it will thrive in soils which are too poor either for grass or tillage4 ,furze and broom are particularly serviceable on account of their blossoming early and long1 and abounding in farina4 ,on the other hand1 the lateness of its bloom makes ivy a very valuable resource for the bees4 ,on a fine day at the end of ,october1 among the ivy-mantled towers of an old castle1 ,i have heard their humming noise1 so loud as scarcely to be exceeded by that which they make1 among the trees affected with honey-dew1 in summer4 ,i should however conceive that the ivy blossom is principally serviceable as affording pollen1 which the bees probably warehouse1 for feeding the young larv in the ensuing spring4 ,mr4 ,hunter recommends ,st4 ,john's wort 7,hypericum perforatum71 which also comes in late1 as a favourite plant for collecting pollen1 for winter's store4 ,this stored pollen is used for feeding the earliest hatched larv1 though it is evident that the bees prefer fresh for the purpose1 from their collecting it as early in the spring as possible1 and from the quantity of stored pollen that is found in every old hive4 ,commons surrounded by woods are well known to make an apiary productive1 the commons abounding with wild thyme and various other flowers1 which the scythe never touches2 and the trees1 in addition to their farina1 affording in some seasons a profusion of honey-dew4 ,the forwardness and activity of hives thus situated1 may1 in part1 be attributed to the sheltering protection of the woods4 ,keys says he never observed bees to be particularly fond of the wild thyme4 ,in this he is opposed to almost all the authors who have written upon the subject4 ,theophrastus1 ,pliny1 ,varro1 ,columella1 and various other writers1 speak in the highest terms of it4 ,the ,abb ,barthelemy speaks thus of bees4 ,these insects are extremely partial to ,mount ,hymettus1 which they have filled with their colonies1 and which is covered almost every where with wild thyme and other odoriferous plants2 but it is chiefly from the excellent thyme the ,mount produces1 that they extract those precious sweets1 with which they compose a honey in high estimation throughout ,greece4 ,here their delicious task the fervent ,bees1 ,in swarming millions1 tend3 around1 athwart1 ,through the soft air the busy nations fly1 ,cling to the bud1 and1 with inserted tube4 ,suck its pure essence1 its ethereal soul2 ,and oft with bolder wing1 they soaring dare ,the purple heath1 or where the wild thyme grows1 ,and yellow load them with the luscious spoil4 ,thomson ,that flowers impart a portion of their flavour to honey1 seems to be generally admitted1 though probably not so much as some have imagined4 ,it is not to be supposed that the bee confines itself1 in this country at least1 to a few particular flowers1--it ranges through a great variety2 excellent honey has been produced where the bees had little access to any flowers but those of nettles and other weeds4 ,still however the balm of ,pontus1 the thyme of ,hymettus1 and the rosemary of ,narbonne1 are generally supposed1 from their aromatic flowers1 to give its peculiar excellence to the celebrated honey of those places4 ,it should seem therefore that rosemary might prove of importance in the neighbourhood of an apiary1 by improving the quality and increasing the quantity of honey in certain seasons1 viz4 if the weather were very hot and dry1 when it blossomed2 for it never affords much honey in this country1 excepting in such a season4 ,it blossoms the earliest of aromatic herbs1 and should of course be planted in a southern aspect4 ,having said thus much upon the power which flowers possess of imparting a peculiar flavour to the honey which is extracted from them1 ,i will now advert to what has been stated relative to their impregnating it with deleterious qualities4 ,during the celebrated retreat of the ten thousand1 as recorded by ,xenophon in his ,memorabilia1 the soldiers sucked some honey-combs in a place near ,trebizonde1 where was a great number of bee-hives1 and in consequence became intoxicated1 and were attacked with vomiting and purging4 ,he states that they did not recover their senses for twenty-four hours1 nor their strength for three or four days4 ,tournefort1 when travelling in ,asia1 bearing in mind this account of ,xenophon1 was very diligent in his endeavours to ascertain its truth1 and had good reason to be satisfied respecting it4 ,he concluded that the honey had been extracted from a shrub growing in the neighbourhood of ,trebizonde1 which is well known to produce the before-mentioned effects1 and even to disturb the head by its odour4 ,from his description and that of others1 the plant from which this honey was extracted1 appears to be the ,rhododendron ponticum or ,azalea pontica of ,linnus1 both nearly allied to each other1 and growing abundantly in that part of the country4 ,the smell resembles honey-suckle1 but is much stronger4 ,father ,lamberti confirms ,xenophon's account1 by stating similar effects to have been produced by the honey of ,colchis or ,mingrelia1 where this shrub is also common4 ,dr4 ,darwin1 in his ,temple of ,nature1 states that some plants afford a honey which is intoxicating and poisonous to man1 and that what is afforded by others is so injurious to the bees themselves1 that sometimes they will not collect it4 ,and ,dr4 ,barton1 in the ,american ,philosophical ,transactions1 has stated that1 in the autumn and winter of #agij1 the honey collected near ,philadelphia proved fatal to many1 in consequence of which1 a minute inquiry was instituted under the direction of the ,american ,government1 when it was ascertained satisfactorily1 that the fatal honey had been chiefly extracted from the flowers of the ,kalmia latifolia4 ,still more recently1 two persons at ,new ,york are said to have lost their lives by eating wild honey1 which was supposed to have been gathered from the flowers of the dwarf laurel1 a thriving shrub in the ,american woods4 ,i shall resume this subject in ,chap4 #bd1 on ,bee-maladies4 ,it appears also that at the time of the inquiry set on foot by the ,american ,government1 similar fatal consequences were produced among those who had eaten the common ,american pheasant1 which1 on examination1 was found to arise from the pheasants having fed upon the leaves of the same plant ,kalmia latifolia4 ,this led to a public proclamation prohibiting the use of the pheasant for food during that season4 ,as most of the plants here enumerated are now introduced into our gardens1 they might be supposed to injure the ,british honey4 ,most probably1 however1 their proportion to the whole of the flowers in bloom is too small to produce any such inconvenience2 whereas on their native continent they exclusively cover whole tracts of country4 ,i cannot close this chapter on ,bee-,pasturage1 without adverting to what ,linnus has said of the ,fritillaria imperialis or crown imperial1 and of the ,melianthus or honey-flower4 ,of the former1 he observes that no plant1 melianthus alone excepted1 abounds so much with honey1 yet the bees do not collect it4 ,of the latter he remarks that if it be shaken1 whilst in flower1 it distils a shower of nectar4 ,this observation applies more particularly to the ,melianthus major4 ,and with respect to the ,fritillaria1 ,dr4 ,evans says1 that the bees do sometimes visit it2 and he thinks that they would do so oftener1 but for the disagreeable fox-like smell that emanates from it4 ,the liquidambar and liriodendrum1 or tulip-tree1 both which are so ornamental1 the former to our shrubberies and the latter to larger plantations1 have been much extolled1 as affording food for bees4 ,the liquidambar bears bright saffron-coloured flowers1 and highly perfumed and glossy leaves1 and its whole rind exudes a fragrant gum4 ,the liriodendrum is crowned with large bell-shaped blossoms1 of every rainbow hue1 which give it a very splendid appearance4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,honey-,,dew4 ,the term honey-dew is applied to those sweet clammy drops that glitter on the foliage of many trees in hot weather4 ,the name of this substance would seem to import1 that it is a deposition from the atmosphere1 and this has been the generally received opinion respecting it1 particularly among the ancients2 it is an opinion still prevalent among the husbandmen1 who suppose it to fall from the heavens3 ,virgil speaks of ,arii mellis clestia dona3 and ,pliny expresses his doubts1 sive ille est cli sudor1 sive qudam siderum saliva1 sive purgantis se aris succus4 ,the ,rev4 ,gilbert ,white1 in his ,naturalist's ,calendar1 regards honey-dew as the effluvia of flowers1 evaporated and drawn up into the atmosphere by the heat of the weather1 and falling down again in the night with the dews that entangle them4 ,but if this were the case1 the fall would be indiscriminate1 and we should not have it confined to particular trees and shrubs1 nor would it be found upon green-house and other covered plants4 ,some naturalists have regarded honey-dew as an exudation or secretion from the surface of those leaves upon which it is found1 produced by some atmospheric stroke1 which has injured their health4 ,dr4 ,darwin stands in this class4 ,others have viewed it as a kind of vegetable perspiration1 which the trees emit for their relief in sultry weather2 its appearance being never observed in a cold ungenial summer4 ,dr4 ,evans is of this opinion1 and makes the following comparative remark3 ,as the glutinous sweat of the negro enables him to bear the fervours of his native clime1 far better than the lymph-perspiring ,european2 so the saccharine dew of the orange1 and the fragrant gum of the ,cretan cistus1 may preserve them amidst the heats even of the torrid zone4 ,mr4 ,curtis has given it as his opinion that the honey-dew is an excrementitious matter1 voided by the aphis or vine-fretter1 an insect which he regards as the general cause of what are called blights4 ,he assures us that he never1 in a single instance1 observed the honey-dew unattended with aphids4 ,i believe it will be found that there are at least two sorts of honey-dew2 the one a secretion from the surface of the leaf1 occasioned by one of the causes just alluded to1 the other a deposition from the body of the aphis4 ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,smith observes of the sensible perspiration of plants1 that when watery1 it can be considered only as a condensation of their insensible evaporation1 perhaps from some sudden change in the atmosphere4 ,groves of poplar or willow exhibit this phenomenon1 even in ,england1 in hot calm weather1 when drops of clear water trickle from their leaves1 like a slight shower of rain4 ,sometimes this secretion is of a saccharine nature1 as ,de la ,hire observed in orange trees4 ,it is somewhat glutinous in the tilia or lime-tree1 rather resinous in poplars1 as well as in ,cistus creticus4 ,ovid has made an elegant use of the resinous exudations of ,lombardy poplars1 which he supposes to be the tears of ,phaton's sisters1 who were transformed into those trees4 ,such exudations must be considered as effusions of the peculiar secretions2 for it has been observed that manna may be scraped from the leaves of ,fraxinus ornus1 as well as be procured from its stem by incision4 ,they are often perhaps a sign of unhealthiness in the plant2 at least such appears to be the nature of one kind of honey-dew1 found in particular upon the beech1 which1 in consequence of an unfavourable wind1 has its leaves often covered with a sweet exudation1 similar in flavour to the liquor obtained from its trunk4 ,so likewise the hop1 according to ,linnus1 is affected with the honey-dew1 and its flowers are rendered abortive1 in consequence of the attacks of the caterpillar of the ,ghost moth 7,phalna ,humuli7 upon its roots4 ,in such case the saccharine exudation must decidedly be of a morbid nature4 ,the other kind of honey-dew which is derived from the aphis1 appears to be the favourite food of ants1 and is thus spoken of by ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 in their late valuable ,introduction to ,entomology4 ,the loves of the ants and the aphides have long been celebrated2 and that there is a connexion between them you may at any time in the proper season1 convince yourself2 for you will always find the former very busy on those trees and plants on which the latter abound2 and if you examine more closely1 you will discover that the object of the ants1 in thus attending upon the aphides1 is to obtain the saccharine fluid secreted by them1 which may well be denominated their milk4 ,this fluid1 which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweetness1 issues in limpid drops from the abdomen of these insects1 not only by the ordinary passage1 but also by two setiform tubes placed1 one on each side1 just above it4 ,their sucker being inserted in the tender bark1 is without intermission employed in absorbing the sap1 which1 after it has passed through the system1 they keep continually discharging by these organs4 ,when no ants attend them1 by a certain jerk of the body1 which takes place at regular intervals1 they ejaculate it to a distance4 ,the power of ejecting the fluid from their bodies1 seems to have been wisely instituted to preserve cleanliness in each individual fly1 and indeed for the preservation of the whole family2 for pressing as they do upon one another1 they would otherwise soon be glued together1 and rendered incapable of stirring4 ,when the ants are at hand1 watching the moment at which the aphides emit their fluid1 they seize and suck it down immediately3 this however is the least of their talents2 for the ants absolutely possess the art of making the aphides yield it at their pleasure2 or in other words of milking them4 ,the ant ascends the tree1 says ,linnus1 that it may milk its cows the aphides1 not kill them4 ,huber informs us that the liquor is voluntarily given out by the aphis1 when solicited by the ant1 the latter tapping the aphis gently1 but repeatedly with its antenn1 and using the same motions as when caressing its own young4 ,he thinks1 when the ants are not at hand to receive it1 that the aphis retains the liquor for a longer time1 and yields it freely and apparently without the least detriment to itself1 for even when it has acquired wings1 it shows no disposition to escape4 ,a single aphis supplies many ants with a plentiful meal4 ,the ants occasionally form an establishment for their aphides1 constructing a building in a secure place1 at a distance from their own city1 to which1 after fortifying it1 they transport those insects1 and confine them under a guard1 like cows upon a dairy farm1 to supply the wants of the metropolis4 ,the aphides are provided with a hollow pointed proboscis1 folded under the breast1 when the insects are not feeding1 with which instrument they puncture the turgid vessels of the leaf1 leaf-stalk or bark1 and suck with great avidity their contents1 which are expelled nearly unchanged1 so that however fabulous it may appear1 they may literally be said to void a liquid sugar4 ,on looking steadfastly at a group of these insects 7,aphides ,salicis7 while feeding on the bark of the willow1 their superior size enables us to perceive some of them elevating their bodies and emitting a transparent substance in the form of a small shower4 ,nor scorn ye now1 fond elves1 the foliage sear1 ,when the light aphids1 arm'd with puny spear4 ,probe each emulgent vein till bright below ,like falling stars1 clear drops of nectar glow4 ,evans4 ,the willow accommodates the bees in a kind of threefold succession1 the farina of the flowers yielding spring food for their young1--the bark giving out propolis for sealing the hives of fresh swarms1--and the leaves shining with honey-dew in the midst of summer scarcity4 ,but to return to the aphides4 ,these insects may also be seen distinctly1 with a strong magnifier1 on the leaves of the hazel1 lime1 c4 but invariably on the inferior surface1 piercing the vessels1 and expelling the honey-dew from their hinder parts with considerable force4 ,these might easily have escaped the observation of the earlier philosophers1 being usually concealed within the curl of the leaves that are punctured4 ,the drops that are spurted out1 unless intercepted by the surrounding foliage1 or some other interposing body1 fall upon the ground1 and the spots may often be observed1 for some time1 beneath the trees affected with honey-dew1 till washed away by the rain4 ,when the leaves of the kidney-bean are affected by honey-dew1 their surface assumes the appearance of having been sprinkled with soot4 ,honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves1 as a viscid1 transparent substance1 sweet as honey1 sometimes in the form of globules1 at others resembling a syrup1 and is generally most abundant from the middle of ,june to the middle of ,july4 ,it is found chiefly upon the oak1 the elm1 the maple1 the plane1 the sycamore1 the lime1 the hazel and the blackberry2 occasionally also on the cherry1 currant1 and other fruit trees4 ,sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a time4 ,the oak generally affords the largest quantity4 ,at the season of its greatest abundance1 the happy humming noise of the bees may be heard at a considerable distance from the trees1 sometimes nearly equalling in loudness the united hum of swarming4 ,of the plane there are two sorts2 the oriental and the occidental1 both highly ornamental trees1 and much regarded in hot climates for the cooling shade they afford4 ,jamque ministrantem ,platanum potantibus umbram4 ,virgil ,the ancients so much respected the former that they used to refresh its roots with wine instead of water1 believing1 as ,sir ,william ,temple has observed1 that this tree loved that liquor1 as well as those who used to drink under its shade4 ,crevit et affuso latior umbra mero4 ,virgil ,the sycamore has been discarded from the situation it used formerly to hold1 near the mansions of the convivial1 owing to the bees crowding to banquet on its profusion of honey-dew1 and occasioning an early fall of its leaves4 ,the lime or linden tree has been regarded as doubly acceptable to the bees1 on account of its fragrant blossoms and its honey-dewed leaves appearing both together1 amidst the oppressive heats of the dog-days2 but it seems doubtful whether the flowers have any attraction but their fragrance1 as they are said to have no honey-cup4 ,it is of great importance to apiarians who reside in the vicinity of such trees as are apt to be affected with honey-dew1 to keep their bees on the storifying plan1 where additional room can at all times be provided for them at pleasure1 as during the time of a honey-dew1 more honey will be collected in one week than will be afforded by flowers in several4 ,so great is the ardour of the bees on these occasions1 and so rapid are their movements1 that it is often dangerous to be placed betwixt the hives and the dews4 ,that species of honey-dew which is secreted from the surface of the leaves1 appears to have been first noticed by the ,abb ,boissier de ,sauvages4 ,he observed it upon the old leaves of the holm-oak and upon those of the blackberry1 but not upon the young leaves of either2 and he remarked at the same time1 that neighbouring trees of a different sort were exempt from it3 among these latter he noticed the mulberry tree1 which1 says he1 is a very particular circumstance1 for this juice 7honey-dew7 is a deadly poison to silk-worms4 ,some years do not afford any honey-dew1 it generally occurs pretty extensively once in four or five years4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,purchase ,,of ,,bees4 ,every one who meditates the establishment of an apiary1 should be able to distinguish a good from a bad hive of bees1 that he may detect imposition1 if it should be attempted1 when he is purchasing his first swarms or stocks4 ,bees are commonly purchased in the spring or in the autumn4 ,the value of a hive of bees1 purchased in the spring1 if it be a recent swarm1 may be ascertained by its weight1 which should not be less than four or five pounds1 on the day of swarming4 ,but the weight alone1 of a stock hive1 is not a criterion of its worth2 several other circumstances are to be considered1--for the worst stock hives often weigh the heaviest4 ,still if a stock-hive be a swarm of the current year1 which is always desirable1 weight may be regarded in a great degree1 as a criterion of value1 its quantity of heterogeneous matters being probably inconsiderable4 ,such a hive1 purchased in the autumn1 should not weigh less than from twenty-five to thirty pounds1 and should contain about half a bushel of bees4 ,there are surer grounds1 however1 upon which its value may be determined4 #ast4 ,the combs should be of a pale colour1 as dark ones denote age2 though even in this there may be deception1 for old combs may be lengthened out and bordered with new wax4 #bndly4 ,the combs should be worked down to the floor of the hive4 #crdly4 ,the interstices of the combs should be crowded with bees4 ,all these points may be safely ascertained1 by gently turning up the hive in an evening1 when the bees are at rest4 ,it may be well also to notice the proceedings of the bees in the day-time4 ,if when they quit the hive1 to range the fields1 they depart in quick succession and without lingering about2 and if the entrance be well guarded by sentinels2 these are pretty sure indications of a prosperous hive4 ,the hive1 when purchased1 should be raised gently from the stool1 some hours prior to its removal1 and be supported by wedges1 that the bees may not cluster on the floor1 as this would be productive of inconvenience at the time of their removal4 ,after being wedged up1 the hive should remain undisturbed till night1 when1 being placed upon a proper board1 it should be carried away carefully1 and placed at once where it is intended to remain1 unless it be a recent swarm which is to be removed into a box4--,the mode of proceeding in this case will be noticed hereafter4 ,the bees of a hive1 recently removed1 if purchased of a near neighbour1 or if the weather be cold1 should be confined for a day or two1 or else many of them1 after flying about in quest of provision1 will be lost2 in the one case1 by returning to their old habitation1 and in the other1 by being chilled to death1 in searching for their new one4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,bee-,,boxes4 ,there has been some difference of opinion as to the most suitable dimensions of bee-boxes4 ,i prefer those of ,keys1 which are twelve inches square and nine inches deep1 in the clear4 ,the best wood for them is red cedar1 the fragrance of which is regarded by some as agreeable to the bees2 but the chief grounds of preference are its effect in keeping moths out of the boxes1 and its being a bad conductor of heat1 from its lightness and sponginess4 ,whatever kind of wood be made use of1 it should be well seasoned2 yellow deal answers the purpose very well4 ,the sides of the boxes should be an inch thick1 and the bars on the top three quarters of an inch1 about an inch and half wide1 and six in number1 which will leave an interspace between each of about half an inch4 ,at the back of each box1 a pane of glass should be fixed in a small rabbet1 which may be covered with a half inch door1 hung with wire hinges and fastened by a button4 ,illustration ,the size of the door may be suited to the wishes of the apiarian3 as this door will only give a view of the centre combs1 in case of their being constructed in a line with the bars1 or of one or more of the external combs1 in case of their being attached at right angles with the bars or diagonally1 it will be desirable to have a pane of glass in each side also1 that the proprietor may be enabled to judge at any time of the stock of honey contained in the box4 ,these small glass windows will seldom do more than afford the proprietor an opportunity of ascertaining the strength of his stock of bees1 and the quantity of honey they have in store2 if he wish to see more particularly the operations of the labourers1 or to witness the survey which the queen now and then takes of them1 he may have a large bell-glass1 surmounted by a straw-hive1 which latter may be occasionally raised1 for the purpose of inspection4 ,by this blest art our ravish'd eyes behold1 ,the singing ,masons build their roofs of gold1 ,and mingling multitudes perplex the view1 ,yet all in order apt their tasks pursue2 ,still happier they1 whose favour'd ken hath seen ,pace slow and silent round1 the state's fair queen4 ,evans4 ,an opportunity of beholding the proceedings of the queen is so very rarely afforded1 that many apiarians have passed their lives without enjoying it2 and ,reaumur himself1 even with the assistance of a glass-hive1 acknowledges that he was many years before he had that pleasure4 ,those who have been so fortunate1 agree in representing her majesty as being very slow and dignified in her movements1 and as being constantly surrounded by a guard of about a dozen bees1 who seem to pay her great homage1 and always to have their faces turned towards her1 like courtiers1 in the presence of royalty4 ,but mark1 of royal port1 and awful mien1 ,where moves with measur'd pace the ,insect ,queen6 ,twelve chosen guards1 with slow and solemn gait4 ,bend at her nod1 and round her person wait4 ,evans4 ,mr4 ,dunbar's observations1 upon the movements of the queen in his mirror-hive1 do not correspond altogether with what is here stated4 ,he says that he did not find her majesty attended in her progress by a guard1 but that wherever she moved the way was cleared2 that the heads of the workers whom she passed upon her route were always turned towards her1 that they fawned upon and caressed her1 touching her softly with their antenn2 but that as soon as she moved onwards1 they resumed their labours1 whilst all that she passed in succession paid her the same homage4 ,this sort of homage is only paid to fertile queens2 whilst they continue virgins1 they are not treated with much respect4 ,the queen is very numerously surrounded1 when depositing her first eggs in the cells1 her attendants then cling to one another and form a living curtain before her1 so completely impenetrable to our eyes1 as to preclude all observation of her proceedings2 unless the apiarian use the leaf-hive of ,huber1 or the mirror-hive of ,dunbar1 it is hardly possible to snatch a sight of her1 excepting when she lays her eggs near the exterior parts of the combs4 ,the manner in which bees attach themselves to each other1 when forming a curtain1 or when suspending themselves from a bough1 or taking their repose1 is1 by each bee1 with its two fore-claws1 taking hold of the two hinder legs of the one next above it1 thus forming as it were a perfect grape-like cluster or living garland4 ,even when thus intertwined with each other1 as ,swammerdam has observed1 they can fly off' from the bunch1 and perch on it again1 or make their way out from the very centre of the cluster1 and rush into the air4 ,this mode of suspension1 so voluntarily adopted1 must be agreeable to them1 though the uppermost bees evidently bear the weight of all the rest4 ,mr4 ,wildman supposes that they have a power of distending themselves with air1 like fishes1 by which they acquire buoyancy4 ,each set of boxes must have one close cover1 which should be an inch thick and well clamped at each end to prevent warping1 as a considerable quantity of steam arises from the bees at certain seasons4 ,the top1 being intended to take off and on1 should be secured by means of four screws1 each placed about an inch and a half from the respective corners2 and it should also be fitted to1 and screwed down upon1 all the boxes before any of them are used1 that whenever it may be necessary to remove1 or to add a box1 the change may be effected with the utmost promptitude4 ,long taper screws1 as nearly of the same size as possible1 should be selected for fastening on the tops1 and be dipped in grease before put in1 to facilitate their removal4 ,each set of boxes must also have a loose floor1 an inch thick and extending about an inch and half beyond the back and sides of the boxes4 ,the outlet for the bees is usually cut in the lower edge of the boxes1 but ,i have found it much more convenient to have it formed by sinking the floor half of its thickness at the centre of its front edge4 ,the width of the part sunk should be about four inches1 and should gradually diminish in depth till it reach the centre of the board4 ,the sloping direction thus given will1 in case of beating rain or condensed steam falling upon it1 prevent any wet from lodging within the hive4 ,the floor must also be clamped at the ends1 to prevent warping1 though the superincumbent weight renders it less liable to be warped than the top4 ,either on the right or left hand side of the entrance1 as may be most convenient1 a groove must be cut half an inch deep and half an inch wide2 to this groove a slide must be fitted 7made to run easily71 for the purpose of closing the box1 and preventing the egress or ingress of the bees1 as occasion may require4 ,illustration ,a centre board between each tier of boxes will likewise be convenient2 it should be of the same size as the floor1 and have an oblong hole about six inches by four in the middle1 to give liberty to the bees to pass from box to box4 ,apiaries should always have a few supernumerary boards of each sort1 and also some supernumerary boxes4 ,as the boxes and boards require to be made with great accuracy1 that they may be nicely adapted to each other1 a good joiner should be employed to construct them2 for if there be any crevices the bees will1 according to their invariable custom1 fill them with propolis1 and thereby waste their valuable time4 ,the square boxes which ,i have described are the simplest of any1 in their form3 some persons prefer the octagon or hexagon form2 in some situations1 if windows be placed in the three posterior sides1 those forms may be more convenient for exhibiting the operations of the bees1 or the store of honey in the combs2 but they are more expensive and more cumbrous1 if made as capacious as the square ones2 and these latter answer the intended purposes so well1 as to satisfy completely those who have used them4 ,although ,i have endeavoured to give a clear description of the form and mode of constructing a bee-box and its appendages1 probably it may be more satisfactory to young beginners to obtain a sight or a model of them1 ,i refer them therefore to ,mr4 ,hughes1 joiner1 ,ross1 ,herefordshire1 or to ,mr4 ,john ,milton1 #aj1 ,great ,marybone ,street4 ,i cannot dismiss this part of my subject1 without saying a few words respecting the hive of ,huish1 which is contrived with the view of allowing the removal of the exterior bars1 that support the honey-combs1 without disturbing the brood-combs4 ,the principle of this hive appears to be very good1 but ,i doubt whether it will come into general use2 for as bees are not very tractable creatures1 they are not likely to construct their combs in direct lines1 so as to attach one singly to each of ,mr4 ,huish's bars3 the tops of the boxes which ,i use are constructed like ,huish's1 yet ,i never saw an instance in which the combs did not either cross those bars at right angles1 or connect themselves in some way or other with two or three bars1 so as to render it impracticable to remove a comb or two from the outsides1 in the manner that ,huish proposes4 ,the sole advantage of ,huish's hive consists in this undisturbing mode of removal2 and could it be effected1 honey might be extracted without withdrawing any of the stored pollen or propolis1 or molesting the brood in the centre combs2 an inconvenience which1 it must be admitted1 may be charged upon the storifying system1 though ,i hope ,i have1 in my chapter or ,deprivation1 pointed out a method that will1 in a very great degree1 if not entirely1 remedy this inconvenience4 ,huish1 in his instructions for using his hives1 admits the difficulty which ,i have here stated1 as to the attachment of a single comb to more than one bar1 and gives particular directions how to proceed on such occasions2 but even under tolerably favourable circumstances1 the recommended operation would require considerable nicety1 and no small portion of courage2 in some cases the difficulty would be completely insurmountable4 ,a hive very similar to that of ,huish is described in ,wheeler's ,travels4 ,he states it to be in use in the neighbourhood of ,mount ,hymettus4 ,the hives1 says he1 in which they keep their bees1 are made of willow or osiers fashioned like our common dust-baskets1 wide at top and narrow at bottom4 ,these tops are covered with broad flat sticks1 along which the bees fasten their combs1 so that a comb may be taken out whole4 ,we are informed1 by ,reaumur and ,du ,hamel1 that this ,greek method of keeping bees and taking honey was introduced into ,france in #aged4 ,if it had succeeded1 either in ,france or in this country1 ,i think we should have heard more of it4 ,the only way in which ,i conceive that ,huish's idea can be followed up effectually1 is1 by employing the experimental hive of ,huber2 but the majority of persons who undertake the management of bees1 will look to them as a source of profit2 and to these the expense of such a hive would render it completely unavailable4 ,huber's first experiments were made in single leaf-hives an inch and a half wide2 his latter trials1 on several of these connected together1 each an inch and a quarter wide1 which left the same room for the passage of the bees as the single hive4 ,see ,chapter ,,xi4 ,reaumur's hives consisted of wooden frames1 with glass windows1 but of such a width1 as to allow the bees to construct two combs parallel to each other4 ,this form is unfavourable1 inasmuch as it conceals from the observer whatever passes between them4 ,mr4 ,thorley1 who practised the plan of super-hiving1 surmounted his octagon boxes and flat-topped hives1 with a large bell-glass1 over which he placed a common straw-hive1 to take on and off4 ,from an extract which ,i have made from ,dr4 ,evans's book in the chapter on ,instincts1 he appears to have adopted this method4 ,it was by the aid of similar glasses that ,maraldi was enabled to give to the world so accurate an account of the natural history and labours of bees4 ,long from the eye of man and face of day1 ,involv'd in darkness all their customs lay1 ,until a ,sage1 well vers'd in ,nature's lore1 ,a genius form'd all science to explore1 ,hives well contriv'd in crystal frames dispos'd1 ,and there the busy citizens inclos'd4 ,murphy's ,vaniere4 ,wildman also1 in addition to his usual mode of keeping bees1 upon the storifying plan1 occasionally employed flat-topped hives surmounted by a large bell-glass2 and at the close of his ,treatise we are informed that he had latterly adopted another method of super-hiving1 which is still practised by apiarians of the present day4 ,instead of employing one large glass1 he made use of four or five small ones1 each holding about a pint2 and those who are fond of using honey fresh from the hive1 will find this a convenient mode of keeping their bees1 though probably not so profitable a one as the general plan of storifying4 ,a stock of these hives and glasses1 on the most approved construction1 is kept constantly ready for sale at ,mr4 ,john ,milton's1 #aj1 ,great ,marybone ,street4 ,the bees1 upon this plan1 are hived in the usual way1 the top board being kept closed1 till the glasses are placed over it1 which may be done as soon as convenient after the hive has been put in the situation in which it is intended to remain4 ,the glasses and top board should be covered with a common straw-hive1 to exclude the light1 as bees are found to work best in the dark4 ,when the glasses are sufficiently filled with combs and honey1--and this period will very much depend upon the season1--if the bees still remain in them1 placing an empty hive under the full one win generally cause them to descend1 and facilitate the removal of the glasses1 which may take place as often as the harvest of honey will admit1 consistently with the leaving of a full winter's supply for the bees4 ,see chapter on ,nadir-hiving4 ,the usual mode of taking the honey in these glasses is1 first to cut off the communication between them and the hive on which they stand1 by loosening the thumbscrew in the centre1 and turning the board so far round as to close the openings2 then1 by means of a thin spatula1 separating the glasses from their adhesion1 and either carrying them1 inverted1 a short distance from the hive1 into a shady place1 or raising each glass by means of a wedge1 and leaving it thus for about an hour4 ,in either case the bees will quit the glasses and return to the family by the usual entrance4 ,to effect the removal1 ,i think it preferable to use two flat pieces of tin1 after the manner of dividers1 placing the tins successively under each glass1 carrying it away upon one1 and leaving the other over the opening till the glass has been emptied and replaced or another substituted in its room3 and where it is wished to take only one or two glasses1 this mode must always be adopted4 ,the bees will rarely fill more than one set of glasses1 during the first year2 though in future years1 if the season be favourable1 they may be expected to fill two sets4 ,the best time for removal is the middle of a fine day1 when the greatest number of bees are roaming the fields4 ,this method of management will not prevent the bees from swarming1 unless it be combined with storifying1 which it very easily may4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,hives4 ,bee-hives have been formed with various materials1 the selection of which has depended partly upon the country or district in which they have been used1 and partly upon the fancy of the apiarian4 ,osiers1 rushes1 segs and straw have all been in requisition for forming hives1 and ,bonner1 an eminent bee-master in ,scotland1 proposes to have them made of earthenware4 ,in ,north ,america1 according to ,brookes1 they are formed out of the hollow trunks of the liquidambar tree1 cut to a proper length and covered with a board to keep out the rain3 for the same purpose the people in ,apulia use the trunk of the giant fennel1 after clearing away its fungous pith4 ,in ,egypt1 says ,hasselquist1 bee-keepers make their hives of coal dust and clay1 which being well blended together1 is formed into hollow cylinders1 of a span diameter1 and from six to twelve feet long2 these being dried in the sun1 become so hard as to be handled at will4 ,i saw some thousands of these hives1 says our author1 at a village between ,damietta and ,mansora2 they composed a wall round a house1 after having become unserviceable in the use they were first made for4--,voyages and ,travels in the ,levant1 c4 ,by ,fred4 ,hasselquist1 ,b4,d4 ,under the head of ,storifying1 ,i have given a history of the discovery and progressive improvement of boxes and storifying hives1 and shall chiefly confine myself1 in this chapter1 to the form and dimensions of hives4 ,the common bell-shaped straw-hives used by the cottagers are too well known to need remark4 ,premising1 therefore1 that the ,chelmsford and ,hertford hives are considered as the handsomest shaped and best formed1 ,i shall limit my observations to the straw hives which may be employed for storifying1 as some persons may prefer straw to wood4 ,these have been called ,moreton-hives1 on account of their form only1 the material of which they were made being reeds and not straw4 ,the best straw for constructing hives is that of unblighted rye1 and unthrashed is preferable to thrashed straw2 for being smooth and entire1 the bees will be spared a good deal of trouble1 as they invariably nibble away the rough sharp spicul that they find on the inner surface of a new hive4 ,the ears of corn may be dissevered from the straw by a chaff-cutter1 and thrashed with other corn4 ,the most approved size for a storifying straw-hive is nine inches high by twelve inches wide1 in the clear1 the diameter being the same from top to bottom4 ,the importance of having all bee-boxes made of the same dimensions has been already dwelt upon1 and it is of course of equal importance with respect to straw-hives4 ,the upper and lower edges should be made as smooth as possible2 which effect will be greatly promoted1 by placing them1 soon after making1 between two flat boards with a #eflb4 weight upon the uppermost1 and leaving them in that position for a day or two4 ,within the upper row of straw1 a small hoop should be worked1 for the purpose of nailing a board or some wooden bars to it1 and within the bottom row a piece of wood should also be worked over the part where the bees are to pass in and out1 to allow of a more easy movement of the slide in the floor board4 ,it would be an improvement if the hoop were perforated through its whole course with a wimble bit1 that it might be stitched with willow or bramble splits1 to the upper round of straw1 instead of being worked in with it2 and if a hoop were also stitched in a similar manner to the lower round of straw1 the lower edge of it could be planed1 sufficiently smooth1 to lie on the middle or floor boards1 as closely as a box1 which would render the use of mortar or other luting unnecessary4 ,the stitch holes in the hoop should be filled with putty1 after the hive has been finished4 ,if bars be made use of1 they should be of the same width1 and placed at the same distances from each other1 as recommended for the boxes1 and the vacancies1 that would otherwise be left between the ends of the bars1 should be made quite level1 with bits of wood1 cow-dung1 or any other convenient substance4 ,if a single board be used1 that1 of course1 must be cut into bars of the proper widths4 ,the direction of the bars should always be from front to back4 ,middle boards and floors will be equally required for storifying hives as for boxes2 but the outside covers should be made of straw1 like round mats1 and be wide enough to extend an inch beyond the edges of the hives1 if used in an out-door apiary4 ,the whole story should be covered with a good hackel or cap1 secured in its place by an iron hoop or a properly weighted wooden one1 to prevent it from being blown down4 ,as clean fresh rye straw is most suitable for constructing the hive itself1 so it will be the best for forming the hackel with3 the latter should be changed before it begins to decay1 that it may not become offensive to the bees from its odour1 nor be selected by insects as a nidus for their eggs4 ,the apiarian1 if he be desirous of having glass windows in his straw-hives1 may accomplish this object by cutting with a sharp knife through two of the bands of straw1 in two places1 about three inches asunder4 ,the windows are generally cut opposite the entrance1 and about the centre1 but may be made at any part of the hive4 ,the ends of the cut straw-bands may be secured by stitches of packthread1 or1 what is better1 with softened mole snap wire1 and the panes of glass may be fastened with putty4 ,out-door hives should have a protection not only of straw caps1 but of a shed also1 which if made open in front only1 would afford much shelter against driving rains and high winds2 but the most complete shed is made with folding or sliding doors at the back1 and is closed at the sides1 and in front1 with the exception of such openings as may be necessary for the entrance of the bees and for their accommodation in bad weather4 ,this shed renders hackels unnecessary1 and is adapted either to storifying or single-hiving4 ,in the annexed plate is a back view of it1 with hives arranged in different ways4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,comparative ,,advantages ,,of ,,wooden ,,boxes ,,and ,,straw ,,hives4 ,most of the writers who have instituted a comparison between hives and boxes1 have decided in favour of the former4 ,but it is to be recollected that when forming this decision1 these writers have always had in their minds an out-door apiary1 for which situation1 on account of their exposure to the variations of temperature and the alternations of drought and moisture1 straw-hives possess advantages over wooden boxes2--they are not so soon affected by a hot and dry or by a moist atmosphere2 they do not part with so much heat in winter nor admit so much in summer1 straw being1 in the language of the chemists1 a bad conductor of heat4 ,being much cheaper than any others1 straw-hives are of course chosen by the cottager4 ,upon the storifying system1 and with the advantage of a bee-house1 ,i think wooden boxes have a great superiority over straw-hives2 they are more firm and steady1 better suited for observing the operations of the bees through the glass windows in the backs and sides1 and less liable to harbour moths1 spiders1 and other insects2 they permit the combs1 at the period of deprivation1 to be more easily separated from the sides and tops1 and if well made1 have a much neater appearance than straw-hives4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,leaf ,,hives4 ,narrow hives1 with large glazed doors on each side1 have been recommended by apiarian writers1 for exposing the operations of bees4 ,that of ,reaumur was too wide3 it allowed the construction of two parallel combs1 by which of course1 the apiarian was precluded from making any useful observations1 upon the proceedings of the bees1 in their interspace4 ,bonnet recommended the use of a hive1 the doors of which should be only so far asunder as to allow the building of one comb between them4 ,this suggestion was successfully adopted by ,huber2 and to prevent the bees from building short transverse combs1 instead of a single one1 parallel to the sides of the hive1 he laid the foundation himself1 by fastening a piece of empty comb to the ceiling of the box4 ,huber's glass doors had only an interspace of an inch and half betwixt them3 in this hive the bees could not cluster upon the surfaces of the comb1 and yet had room to pass freely over it4 ,mr4 ,john ,hunter recommended the diameter of these narrow hives to be three inches1 and the superficies of the sides to be of sufficient size to afford stowage for a summer's work4 ,mr4 ,dunbar1 with his mirror-hive1 constructed somewhat like ,huber's1 has been able to make some interesting observations on the conomy of the bee4 ,vide ,edinburgh ,philosophical ,journal1 vol4 iii4 ,the distance of his glass doors from each other is one inch and two thirds2 the height and width of the hive1 according to the plan in the ,journal1 about a foot4 ,across the centre of the mirror-hive ,mr4 ,dunbar introduced a light frame1 which though apparently dividing the hive into four compartments1 allowed the bees a free passage3 they were skreened from the light by a pair of folding shutters on each side4 ,mr4 ,dunbar hived a small swarm in one of these narrow boxes1 in ,june #ahai3 the bees began to build immediately1 and he witnessed the whole of their proceedings1 every bee being exposed to his view4 ,the narrowness of their limits constrained them1 from the very commencement1 to work in divisions1 so that four separate portions of comb were begun and continued nearly at the same time4 ,illustration ,but this arrangement did not sufficiently employ these industrious creatures2 for contrary to their usual mode of building1 which is from above downwards1 they laid two other foundations of comb1 upon the upper parts of the cross sticks4 ,illustration ,the bees now wrought upwards and downwards at the same time1 till the originally separate portions were united and become one comb4 ,illustration ,for want of proper precautions1 the bees of this hive perished1 during the intense cold of ,january #ahbj4 ,on the #beth of ,march following1 ,mr4 ,dunbar introduced another swarm into the same unicomb hive2 and so early as the #bgth1 he saw the queen laying the eggs of workers4 ,this second swarm found plenty of honey and farina in the hive1 left by its former tenants4 ,other particulars reported by ,mr4 ,dunbar are detailed in the ,chapters to which they belong4 ,these hives are of course only useful to the amateur apiarian1 who is in quest of information or amusement4 ,huber carried the principle of this hive still further3 he joined several thin boxes together with hinges3 these boxes or wooden frames were without glasses1 and the hinges were so contrived as to admit of easy removal4 ,every box or leaf 7as ,huber called each separate frame71 except the two exterior1 was reduced in thickness to an inch and quarter1 which1 as there was a free communication between all the leaves1 afforded the same liberty for the operations of the bees as the single box that was an inch and half wide4 ,this contrivance gave him the power of opening the leaves separately1 and inspecting the proceedings of the bees at all times3 they soon became accustomed to this treatment1 and ,m4 ,huber was thus able to examine any one of the divisions1 without exciting the anger of the bees4 ,after they had properly secured the pieces of comb which he had attached to the roofs of the boxes1 they were subjected to a daily inspection by this indefatigable naturalist4 ,the preceding sketches may serve to show my readers the progressive proceedings of the bees in the unicomb hive1 and the following outline may give them a notion of the compound hive4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,dividers4 ,the apiarian who adopts the storifying plan1 should have ,keys's dividers1 which consist of two copper or brass plates1 about the sixteenth of an inch thick1 fifteen inches wide1 and fifteen and a half long2 the odd half inch1 being turned up1 serves for the operator to lay hold of1 when the plates are withdrawn4 ,care should be taken that the plates be perfect planes1 well hardened by hammering1 and of proper thickness4 ,if they exceed the prescribed thickness1 the bees may escape as soon as the plates are partially introduced or partially withdrawn2 and if they be thinner1 there will be the same chance of escape from their want of firmness and elasticity4 ,these dividers greatly facilitate the various operations which the apiarian has to perform1 and at the same time secure him from the attacks of the bees4 ,he should be provided with one of the long-bladed spatulas or knives1 used by apothecaries and painters1 which he will find useful in separating the honey-combs from the sides of the hives or boxes4 ,in some cases it will also be necessary to have an iron instrument1 about ten inches long and half an inch wide1 the end of which should be turned up about two inches and be double-edged1 that it may cut both ways4 ,this instrument1 which should be fixed in a wooden handle1 being passed between the combs1 will enable the operator to separate them from their attachment to the bars4 ,those who make use of the ,moreton-hives1--a description of which is given in the chapter on ,hives1--should be furnished with two strips of tin four inches by fifteen2 these will protect the straw bottoms of the upper hives during the introduction of the dividers1 and should be introduced one on each side1 the hives having been previously dissevered by means of the spatula4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,storifying4 ,illustration ,storifying means the piling of hives or boxes upon each other1 as shown in the above plate1 and preserving a free communication between them2 a method which enables the apiarian to take wax and honey without destroying the lives of the bees4 ,attempts have been made to accomplish this object in different ways4 ,thorley placed empty hives or boxes over full ones1 ,wildman and ,keys placed full boxes over empty ones1 ,white and ,madame ,vicat placed them collaterally4 ,hives and boxes for storifying1 as well as for observing the operations of the bees1 have been made of various forms and dimensions1 and of different materials3 such as straw1 osiers1 glass1 and wood4 ,aristotle1 ,pliny1 and other ancient writers1 speak of contrivances for taking honey1 and inspecting the operations of the bees4 ,modern writers1 particularly ,mouffet1 ridiculed the ineffectual schemes of their brethren of antiquity1 and indeed they were very soon abandoned4 ,the way in which they endeavoured to accomplish their objects1 was by the introduction of transparent substances into the sides of the hives or boxes1 such as isinglass1 horn 7cornu laterna71 pellucid stone 7lapis specularis71 probably talc1 which is still used in the ,russian navy for cabin windows1 on account of its not being liable to break by the percussion of the air during the firing of cannon1 or in tempestuous weather4 ,mr4 ,hartlib's ,commonwealth of ,bees1 published in #afee1 contains the first account1 ,i have seen1 of bee-boxes being employed in this country4 ,he speaks of an experiment of glassen hives invented by ,mr4 ,w4 ,mew1 ,minister of ,easlington in ,gloucestershire3 his boxes were of an octagon shape1 and had a glass window in the back4 ,soon after1 in the year #afge1 ,jno4 ,gedde1 ,esq4 published1 ,a new discovery of an excellent method of ,bee-houses and ,colonies1 which was intended to preserve the lives of the bees3 he obtained a patent for his boxes from ,king ,charles4 ,gedde's boxes were considerably improved by ,joseph ,warder1 a physician at ,croydon1 who published an account of them in his work entitled ,the true ,amazons1 or the ,monarchy of ,bees4 ,dr4 ,warder enriched his account with several curious circumstances respecting bees2 some of which will be detailed in a future chapter4 ,the method of these gentlemen seems not to have been generally known2 for even ,swammerdam1 who published in #afhj1 makes no mention of it4 ,had ,swammerdam known it1 he would have been informed of many circumstances1 respecting which he was evidently ignorant4 ,this want of ,dr4 ,warder's information is to be lamented1 for ,swammerdam was an accurate observer1 and a faithful reporter of what he did observe4 ,gedde and ,warder were succeeded by the ,rev4 ,john ,thorley of ,oxford1 who published ,an ,enquiry into the ,nature1 ,order1 and ,government of ,bees2 and by the ,rev4 ,stephen ,white of ,halton in ,suffolk1 who wrote on ,collateral ,bee-boxes1 or an easy and advantageous method of managing ,bees4 ,collateral boxes have been objected to1 because bees1 when the boxes are on a level1 have laid their eggs promiscuously in both2 moreover side boxes occupy a great deal more room than storifying boxes4 ,mr4 ,thorley's son improved the method of his father4 ,the indefatigable ,mr4 ,wildman devoted much of his time to the same subject3 to him we are principally indebted for the present perfection of bee-boxes1 and particularly for obtaining fresh honey throughout the season1 by means of small glasses ranged upon a flat-topped hive4 ,vide pages #ic and #ii4 ,but faintly1 ,rome1 thy waxen cities shone ,through the dim lantern or refractive stone1 ,and faintly ,albion saw her film-wing'd train ,glance evanescent through the latticed pane4 ,ere ,wildman's art unveil'd the straw girt round1 ,its broad expanse with crystal vases crown'd1 ,and each full vase1 like ,amaltha's horn1 ,for ,man successive graced the festal morn4 ,evans4 ,madame ,vicat1 a very ingenious lady in ,switzerland1 published1 in the ,memoirs of the ,berne ,society1 some very judicious ,observations on bees and hives4 ,she was the first who hinted1 that upon the storifying plan1 the duplets and triplets should always be placed under the full hives2 as the bees1 in constructing fresh works1 evidently prefer descending to ascending4 ,lastly1 we have ,mr4 ,keys's very useful book1 ,the ancient ,bee-master's ,farewell1 which has long been a standard work to the practical apiarian4 ,keys states1 that upon the storifying plan1 three pecks of bees will collect more honey in a season1 than four pecks divided into two families1 upon the common plan1 and that the proportion of pure honey and pure wax will likewise be greater4 ,he observes1 that a good storified colony has1 under favourable circumstances1 received an accession of thirty pounds of honey in seven days2 whereas if a swarm had been sent off1 the increase1 in the same period1 would not1 probably1 have been more than five pounds4 ,this difference of increase is owing1 ,i conceive1 to the divided family occupying a larger proportion of its workers as nurses1 than the storified family employs1 there being in the former the brood of two queens1 in the latter the brood of only one1 to be attended to4 ,the one establishment is in fact divided1 so as to form two establishments1 and there must be of course1 an observance of the accustomed peculiarities of dignity and office1 in each of the two1 as there was in the one2 consequently1 fewer collecting bees can be spared from the divided family1 than would have been at liberty in their undivided state2 and this reasoning will apply with increasing force as the number of duplets and triplets is increased4 ,in single-hiving1 if rainy weather occur at the time the bees are prepared to throw off a swarm1 and the hive be filled with comb to its utmost limit1 all the bees must remain idle till the return of fine weather2 whereas if more room be given1 as upon the storifying plan1 they will1 by embracing every opportunity for collecting1 and by constructing fresh combs by means of the stores already collected1 be enabled to diminish that check to their activity1 which wet weather always occasions4 ,though rainy weather has this effect upon the bees1 yet are they much less susceptible to moisture than to cold3 they may frequently be seen in full activity upon a warm showery day1 whereas on a cold dry one1 they cluster closely together within the hives4 ,the colder the weather the more closely they cluster4 ,when the lime-tree and black grain blossom1 says ,huber1 they brave the rain1 they depart before sun-rise1 and return later than ordinary4 ,independently of the benefit derived from storifying1 as congregating a numerous body of bees together1 it will always be found advantageous to have hives of whatever sort well filled1 as the bees uniformly work best when in a numerous body3 this has induced ,mr4 ,espinasse and others strongly to recommend the union of stocks that do not well fill the hives4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,swarming4 ,however populous a stock of bees may be in the autumn1 its numbers are greatly reduced during winter1 perhaps about six or seven eighths4 ,this loss is more than replaced in the spring1 by the amazing fecundity of the queen4 ,hence arises a disposition to throw off swarms1 which1 of course1 will issue more or less frequently1 more or less early1 and in greater or less force1 according to the temperature of the season1 the fertility of the queen1 the populousness of the stock1 and the attention that has been paid to early feeding4 ,it is a prevalent opinion1 that a swarm consists entirely of young bees2 but this is an error3 every swarm contains a mixture of young and old2 the latter are distinguishable by being of a redder hue1 and having ragged wings4 ,in favourable seasons1 a good stock will throw off three swarms1 even a swarm of the current year will sometimes throw off another swarm2 in this latter case1 there is but a small collection of honey1 compared with the great number of bees which have been called into existence4 ,i have endeavoured to account for this in page #aac4 ,in the ,monthly ,magazine1 for ,sept4 #ahbe1 an instance is recorded of five swarms being thrown off and hived before the end of ,july from planting one single stock2 the season was favourable1 and the situation1 7,high ,armaside in ,lorton71 particularly so4 ,they were not all thrown off from the first or parent stock1 but from that and the earliest swarm4 ,bosc1 the ,french consul in ,carolina1 has stated that he had eleven swarms in one season from a single stock2 and that each of those swarms1 during the same season1 threw off the same number of secondary ones6666 ,the space which usually intervenes between the first and second swarm is from seven to nine days2 between the second and third1 the period is shorter2 and if there should be a fourth1 it may depart the day after that which precedes it4 ,this succession of swarms must be owing to the great number of young queens that obtain their liberty4 ,as they greatly weaken the parent stock1 and are naturally weak themselves1 the only resource under such circumstances is the union of two or more of the swarms into one family4 ,march is the month in which the grand laying of the queen usually commences2 yet when ,january proves mild1 the breeding will sometimes begin at the latter end of that month1 and it is by no means an uncommon thing for the commencement to happen in ,february4 ,the queen-bee may naturally be expected to breed earlier in the season than insects in general1 from the circumstance of the working-bees storing up food for the young1 which other insects1 that breed later1 do not2 as also from her living in the midst of a society which preserves a summer heat during the coldest months of winter4 ,a thermometer in a bee-hive has ranged as high as #gd ,fahrenheit at ,christmas2 and ,bonner says that he has often seen his hives with young brood in them in the midst of a severe frost4 ,in the ,transactions of the ,society for the ,encouragement of ,arts1 c4 ,mr4 ,hubbard has stated that vigorous well-stored hives breed even in the depth of winter4 ,in this perhaps he was mistaken2 the finding of eggs and maggots in the cells does not satisfy my mind1 as they might have been laid late in the autumn1 and have remained stationary till spring4 ,riem states1 that in a bad season the eggs will remain in the cells many months without hatching4 ,mr4 ,hubbard was led to make the experiment of suffocating a strong stock in ,february1 to ascertain the state of the brood-combs2 in which he says that he found an abundance of brood1 in every state1 from that of egg to the almost perfect fly2 although the preceding ,january had been very cold1 accompanied by frost and snow1--a circumstance which in some measure confirms my supposition1 as to the suspended development of the brood4 ,mr4 ,hubbard further adds1 that on examining two weak hives1 in ,march and ,april1 he found not a single egg4 ,from these very opposite states ,dr4 ,evans infers the great importance of leaving stocks strong in ,october1 and feeding them in an ungenial autumn1 conceiving that the bees apportion the numbers of their young to the means they possess of supporting them4 ,that ,the prescient ,female rears her tender brood ,in strict proportion to the hoarded food4 ,this1 however1 does not correspond with what will be stated below2 from which it will appear1 that the queen sometimes lays eggs1 in reliance upon an approaching season1 and does not let the number altogether depend upon the stock of provision in the hive4 ,the commencement of the queen's breeding may generally be known1 by the bees carrying in pellets of farina on their thighs4 ,for want of a sufficient supply of this1 as must happen in cold unkindly seasons1 many of the nymphs are cast out1 having died probably from actual starvation4 ,hence the necessity1 as before stated1 of having in the immediate neighbourhood of the hives such early blossoming trees and flowers as afford plenty of farina2 and also late blossoming ones1 that the bees may be enabled to lay in a store of it1 ready for spring4 ,swarming may take place at any time between the beginning of ,april and the latter end of ,august4 ,it seldom happens before ten in the morning1 nor later than three in the afternoon1 and never but in fine weather4 ,if it be sultry1 bees are apt to rise after a storm1 being anxious to escape from the heat of the hive1 rendered more intolerable by the confinement which the storm has occasioned4 ,in the sixth volume of the ,philosophical ,transactions1 an instance is recorded by ,richard ,reed1 ,esq4 of ,lugwardine1 of a swarm issuing on the #ith of ,march2 as he supposed1 in consequence of there being an insufficient supply of food for the whole family1 a part were sent forth to seek their fortunes1 lest the whole should perish4 ,the day1 he says1 was fine1 but does not mention the temperature4 ,probably this was a stock which had bred in the month of ,february1 the swarm issuing from the usual cause1 a disproportion between the size of the family and the size of the habitation4 ,if early swarming be desired1 early breeding must be promoted1 by feeding with sugared or honeyed ale in ,february and ,march1 and by keeping the stock warm4 ,and if the apiarian at any time wish to obtain a swarm1 he has only to withhold from his bees that accommodation which storifying affords them4 ,the most advantageous time for a swarm to be thrown off is from the middle of ,may to the middle of ,june4 ,this period comprehends the grand harvest season of the honeyed race4 ,after the scythe has cut down the flowers which adorn our meadows and yield the bees such a plentiful supply of honey and farina1 there is a very manifest relaxation in their activity2 their excursions are not only much less extensive1 but less frequent1 although the weather be in all respects propitious4 ,swarms that issue much earlier than the time ,i have specified1 are apt to be small2 and should bad weather succeed1 feeding will be necessary1 to prevent famine4 ,those that issue later1 afford no better promise1 either to themselves or to the parent hives2 for though late swarms are usually large ones1 they will scarcely have time to rear their brood1 and to lay in a store of honey1 c4 adequate to the support of the family during the ensuing winter and spring4 ,late swarming is not only hazardous to the bees thrown off1 but is injurious to the parent stock1 which suffers in proportion to the loss of labourers1 that should contribute to the general store of food1 and assist in rearing the brood1 which is generally abundant1 though the season be far advanced4 ,hence it is the usual practice1 early in the autumn1 to suffocate both the swarm and the stock1 in order to secure whatever wax and honey may have been collected up to that time4 ,there is however another alternative1 as will be seen under the head of ,uniting ,swarms or ,stocks4 ,if several days of rainy weather should succeed a swarm's going off1 the stores they carry with them from the parent hive may be exhausted and endanger a famine2 in such a case recourse must be had to feeding4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,comparative ,,advantages ,,of ,,storifying ,,and ,,single-,,hiving4 ,from what has been said in the two last chapters1 a comparative estimate may be made of the advantages which storifying possesses over single-hiving2 and they appear to be the following4 ,first1 an conomical division of labour1 an advantage common to all bodies of artificers1 whose works are conducted upon a large scale1 and which causes a larger quantity of wax and honey to be collected in the season1 than if the bees were to swarm1 and to carry on their operations in separate families4 ,secondly1 the facility with which the bees may be deprived of a considerable portion of their honey1 without destroying their lives1 or communicating to the honey any unpleasant flavour1 from the sulphurous gas4 ,thirdly1 the power which is afforded to the bees1 of employing themselves usefully during wet weather1 in the manner before stated4 ,fourthly1 the saving of that time which is unnecessarily spent in the construction of fresh combs1 in the new habitation4 ,fifthly1 the saving of room2 for as every family has more warehouse-room than its respective necessities require1 the division into small families must multiply the proportion of this superfluous room4 ,sixthly1 the saving of the time usually lost in preparation for swarming1 when the bees hang inactively in clusters1 on the outsides of the hives1 for many days1 sometimes for weeks1 particularly if the weather be unfavourable4 ,it seems right to remark in this place1 that though this clustering or hanging out of the bees is generally regarded as one of the strongest symptoms of an approaching swarm1 it is nevertheless a deceptive one4 ,it does certainly indicate that there are bees sufficient to throw off a swarm1 and is sometimes evidence of an anxiety to do so2 but unless there be a queen ready to go off with them1 however distrest for room1 the clustering will sometimes continue for a considerable time2 in hot dry seasons it may last till the middle of ,august4 ,this clustering1 as before observed1 is very prejudicial1 as it causes the bees to be inactive in their principal harvest season1 when every bee ought to be fully employed1 and may induce a habit of inactivity for the future4 ,clustering likewise obstructs the operations of the bees that are active1 by interrupting the thoroughfare to the hive4 ,these disadvantages are admirably remedied by storifying1 without which1 independently of the loss of time to the bees1 a constant system of watchfulness must be kept up by the proprietor1 during the whole period of the bees clustering out1 otherwise a swarm may be lost4 ,storifying1 though generally1 is not invariably successful in causing the clustered bees to reenter the boxes3 where it fails to do so1 if a young queen were ready to assume the sovereignty of the colony1 the clustered bees would swarm and seek a new habitation with the old one4 ,m4 ,reaumur drowned several hives thus circumstanced1 and examined all their inmates most minutely1 but could never find more than a single queen1 and this the old one2 in none of these hives did he find royal larv4 ,keys says that he has failed to make the clustered bees rejoin the family1 if he has put the empty him or box over the colony2 but that by placing the box under it1 the bees soon re-entered and worked vigorously4 ,i have myself1 in several instances1 noticed the reluctance of bees to ascend2 this reluctance will however generally give way in a day or two1 if no room be allowed them in any other direction4 ,this is proved by the successful use of small glasses upon flat-topped hives or boxes1 for obtaining fresh honey occasionally4 ,thorley constantly practised super-hiving1 and was very successful with it4 ,so likewise is my friend ,mr4 ,walond1 who finds it afford him a supply of purer honey than nadir-hiving2 for as the queen is generally found more disposed to descend than to ascend1 by placing the box over the stock it will seldom be stored with any other combs than those which contain honey4 ,mr4 ,george ,hubbard1 however1 of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 in a paper contained in the ,transactions of the ,society of ,arts1 vol4 ix4 7for which they awarded him ten guineas71 says that he has known instances in which the bees have swarmed rather than submit to super-hiving4 ,bees have been known to construct combs under the floors of the hives1 when restricted for room within4 ,here their natural activity surmounted the impediments thrown in their way1 by the want of inclosed space4 ,the storifying or colonizing plan has been much applauded for its saving the lives of the bees3 though this preservation be well worthy of attention1 yet it is an advantage very inferior to that which is derived from the conomical division of labour1 the consequent increase of wax and honey1 and the facility afforded for extracting them4 ,i trust that this remark will not expose me to the imputation of inhumanity1 for ,i am fully sensible of the value of life to all creatures that exist1 and have often felt strongly the force of ,thomson's pathetic description of the sulphurous death of bees4 ,ah6 see where robb'd and murder'd in that pit ,lies the still heaving hive6 at evening snatch'd4 ,beneath the cloud of guilt-concealing night1 ,and fix'd o'er sulphur444 ,sudden the dark oppressive steam ascends4 ,and1 us'd to milder scents1 the tender race ,by thousands tumble from their honey'd dome1 ,convuls'd and agonizing in the dust4 ,the bee is generally allowed to be a short-lived insect4 7,vide ,longevity of ,bees47 ,whatever advantage can be derived however1 from preserving the lives of the bees1 at the period of taking their honey1 those1 who keep them upon the storifying plan1 will have the full benefit of it1 and be spared that torture of feeling1 which the sensitive always experience1 when destroying life in any way4 ,true benevolence extends itself through the whole compass of existence1 and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation4 ,little minds may be apt to consider a compassion of this inferior kind1 as an instance of weakness1 but ,i consider it as affording undoubted evidence of a noble nature4--,melmoth4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,symptoms ,,which ,,precede ,,swarming4 ,see where with hurry'd step1 th' impassion'd throng ,pace o'er the hive1 and seem with plaintive song ,t' invite their loitering queen2 now range the floor1 ,and hang in cluster'd columns from the door2 ,or now in restless rings around they fly1 ,nor spoil they sip1 nor load the hollow'd thigh3 ,e'en the dull drone his wonted ease gives o'er4 ,flaps the unwieldy wing1 and longs to soar4 ,evans4 ,notwithstanding what ,i have said in the last chapter on the subject of clustering1 it is too important a circumstance to be omitted in the following enumeration of the signs of swarming4 #a4 ,clustering or hanging out1 if taken singly1 may be regarded as a fallacious symptom1 but when conjoined with other indications1 it may be considered as a sign of swarming1 particularly if accompanied by the signs enumerated at the commencement of my motto4 #b4 ,the drones being visible in greater numbers than usual1 and in great commotion1 especially in the afternoon4 #c4 ,the inactivity of the working bees1 who neither gather honey nor farina1 though the morning be sunny and the weather altogether inviting4 ,reaumur regarded this as the most indubitable sign of preparation for swarming4 #d4 ,a singular humming noise1 for two or three nights previous1 which has been variously described and accounted for4 ,it cannot always be distinguished1 unless the ear be placed near the mouth of the hive2 the sounds1 which are sharp and clear1 seem to proceed from a single bee4 ,some suppose the noise to be made by the young queen1 and to resemble chip chip peep peep or the toot toot of a child's penny trumpet1 but not so loud2 ,mr4 ,hunter compares it to the lower a in the treble of the piano-forte4 ,it is readily distinguishable by those who have been accustomed to hear it4 ,dr4 ,evans inquires1 is it the sound emitted by perfect queens1 on emerging from their cells1 as described by ,m4 ,huber8 ,the noise is sometimes in a shrill1 at other times in a deeper key2 this difference in the intensity of the tones may arise from the distance whence the sound proceeds1 or may be intended to intimate to the bees the respective ripeness of their queens4 ,butler and ,woolridge ascribe it to a parley between the old and young queens1 the latter at the bottom of the hive requesting leave to emigrate1 and the former answering in her bass note from the top4 ,wildman supposes it to arise from a contest betwixt the queens1 about sallying forth2 and endeavours to account for its less frequency before first swarms1 from the young chiefs being then in their embryo state4 ,this however is mere hypothesis1 and not at all consonant with later discoveries1 particularly those of ,huber and ,dunbar4 ,vide pages #ah and #bb4 #e4 ,unusual silence in the hive1 during which the separatists are supposed to be taking in a cargo of honey before their flight1 as a provision against bad weather4 ,mr4 ,hunter opened the crops of some bees that remained in the parent hive and the crops of some emigrating bees1 when he found the latter quite full1 whilst the former contained but a small quantity4 ,the above symptoms oftener precede second or third than first swarms1 which latter sometimes issue forth without any previous notice4 ,keys speaks so emphatically upon this subject that ,i shall quote his words4 ,although there are no signs that precede first swarms1 those1 before-mentioned1 convey to the apiator one certain meaning1 and when heard he may be assured that the first or prime swarm has escaped1 if that will comfort him4 ,the moment before their departure exhibits a very lively agitation1 which first affects the queen1 and is then communicated to the workers1 exciting such a tumult among them1 that they abandon their labours1 and rush in disorder to the outlets4 ,if a swarm quit the first place on which it clusters1 it hovers in the air for some time1 as if undetermined1 and then flies off with great velocity4 ,we hear now and then of a swarm of bees being lost1 of its having eluded the vigilance of the proprietor2 ,i think that its loss is generally attributable to negligence4 ,as a different opinion is prevalent1 ,i shall state a few of the facts upon which that difference is founded4 ,homer and ,virgil speak of bees in their wild state as fixing their habitations in the rocks and in hollow trees4 ,as from some rocky cleft the shepherd sees1 ,clustering in heaps on heaps1 the driving bees4 ,pope's ,homer4 ,and oft1 7'tis said17 they delve beneath the earth1 ,and nurse in gloomy caves their hidden birth1 ,amid the crumbling stone's dark concave dwell1 ,or hang in hollow trees their airy cell4 ,sotheby's ,georgics4 ,many instances are also recorded of domesticated bees seeking an asylum in some hollow part of an old building or tree4 ,dr4 ,warder1 ,mr4 ,butler1 ,mr4 ,knight1 ,dr4 ,evans1 ,m4 ,duchet1 and other writers think that the bees about to swarm regularly send out scouts1 to explore an eligible situation for their future residence2 though ,dr4 ,evans admits that this disposition to resume wild habits1 like many of the instinctive faculties of the animal creation1 has its intensity weakened by domestication4 ,dr4 ,warder asserts that the bees always send out providers1 to select a suitable residence for them1 several days before swarming1 and considers that their clustering upon a bough1 c4 soon after they issue forth1 proceeds from their desire to be all congregated together prior to the last flight3 this is likewise the opinion of ,mr4 ,knight4 ,if the place selected be a deserted hive1 it is first cleared by the bees of all heterogeneous matters1 the old combs alone being allowed to remain4 ,an observance of this conduct probably led ,columella to recommend the placing of empty hives1 during the swarming season1 in appropriate situations near an apiary4 ,keys gives a similar recommendation4 ,reaumur on the other hand ridicules the idea of spies and quartermasters1 as ingenious fable4 ,what ,i have stated in ,chapter ,,xvii4 p4 #adh4 confirms ,reaumur's opinion3 he is also supported in it by ,buffon1 ,bonnet1 and ,huber3 the former says1 that the swarming bees form a cloud round their queen1 and set off without seeming to know the place of their destination2--the world before them1 where to choose their place of rest4 ,i will however detail a few cases that support the theory of spies and quartermasters4 ,in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ahjg1 ,mr4 ,knight1 writing to ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 relates several instances of the kind4 ,on one occasion he observed from twenty to thirty bees paying daily visits to some decayed trees1 about a mile distant from his garden2 the bees appeared to be busily employed in examining the hollow parts1 and particularly the dead knots around them1 as if apprehensive of the knots admitting moisture4 ,in about fourteen days1 these seeming surveyors were followed by a large swarm from his apiary1 which was watched the whole way1 till it alighted in one of these cavities4 ,it was observed to journey nearly in a direct line from the apiary to the tree4 ,on several similar occasions the bees selected that cavity which ,mr4 ,knight thought best adapted to their use4 ,he has also noticed that1 a stock being nearly ready to swarm1 one of these hollow trees was daily occupied by a small number of bees2 but the swarm from that stock1 being lodged in another hive1 the tree was wholly deserted4 ,this preference of a hive1 when offered them1 to a place chosen by themselves1 ,mr4 ,knight ascribes to a habit acquired by domestication1 which generating a dependence upon man for providing them a dwelling1 descends hereditarily from the parents to their offspring4 ,another instance is related by ,dr4 ,evans3 he suffered a hive1 whose tenants had died in the winter1 to remain upon the stand till spring3 he then observed several bees paying it daily visits1 and busily employed within1 but leaving it at the close of evening4 ,these soon appeared1 like ,dr4 ,warder's providers1 to be the harbingers of a swarm2 for1 early in ,june1 an immense body of these insects were seen rapidly approaching1 and then surrounding the hive3 they took possession as quickly as its narrow entrance and crowded combs would permit4 ,the same result was noticed after the mild winter of #ahjf-g1 which untenanted one of his hives by famine3 he was present when the swarm issued 7from another hive in his garden7 to take possession of the empty one1 which1 on his endeavouring to raise it1 to give facility to their entrance1 he found already cemented to the floor4 ,the ,doctor also relates a case in which a swarm of bees made its way either over the tops of some very high houses1 or through several winding streets1 to an old house in the centre of ,shrewsbury1 and passing through an aperture in the wood-work to a room on the first floor1 were there hived by the family4 ,mr4 ,butler in his ,feminine ,monarchie mentions the case of a poor woman whose hive being depopulated by famine was allowed to remain out of doors till the ensuing summer1 when a swarm took possession of it1 from which she afterwards stored her garden4 ,other instances of a similar kind have been related2 but in most of them it is not easy to ascertain how far the proprietors of the hives1 from which the swarms went forth1 had been improvident4 ,the cases related by ,mr4 ,knight are the most remarkable2 but with respect to these1 further information would be desirable4 ,was there any inducement beyond a snug housing in the cavities of the trees1 to tempt the bees to wander so far from their native spot8 such as favourite pasturage1 or neighbouring trees that were wont to supply honey-dew8 or were there in either of the hollow trees1 thus occupied1 any old combs which had been left there by another family8 ,lastly1 were the emigrating bees exposed to any annoyance in their old habitation1 either from neighbours of their own species or the attacks of other animals8 or were they deprived of any sheltering protection to which they had been accustomed1 by the removal of buildings1 the cutting down of trees or otherwise8 ,bonner1 who agrees in opinion with ,mr4 ,knight1 that bees often go in quest of a suitable habitation1 before they swarm1 has observed that he knew for certain that a swarm would not fly a mile to an empty hive1 whereas they will fly1 says he1 four miles to take possession of an old one with combs in it4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,hiving ,,of ,,swarms4 ,the hiving of bees is a proceeding so well known that it seems unnecessary to offer any observations on the particular method of effecting it4 ,in every apiary there should be a stock of hives1 boxes1 c4 always ready before-hand1 either for storifying or for single-hiving2 a neglect of this precaution will often be productive of great inconvenience and confusion4 ,it is always desirable to have swarms put into new hives1 as old ones often contain the larv of moths and other embryo insects1 which may prove injurious to the bees4 ,if straw be the material with which they are made1 every rough straw should be removed from the interior1 otherwise the bees will lose that time in rendering it smooth1 which they could employ to greater advantage in gathering honey and constructing combs4 ,for a similar reason1 if boxes be preferred1 these should be made air-tight with putty or other cement1 that the bees may not consume their time in filling the crevices with propolis4 ,if on any occasion the apiarian be induced to have recourse to an old hive1 for receiving a swarm1 it should1 before being used1 be dipped into boiling water1 to destroy the eggs of moths and other insects1 after which it should be made perfectly dry4 ,in the common straw-hive1 two new sticks placed across each other1 at the second round of straw from the bottom1 will be useful to support the weight of combs3 the bees require no aid at the top1 to which they will themselves securely attach the combs1 as may be seen in hollow trees where bees have taken up their abode4 ,dressing the insides of the hives is of doubtful advantage4 ,some people rub the interior of the hive with balm1 bean-tops1 fennel1 c4 or smear it over with cream and honey4 ,wildman strongly reprobates this practice1 as it gives the bees the trouble of making the hive clean again4 ,if any thing be used1 in compliance with custom1 sugared or honeyed ale is the most alluring4 ,keys says that a hive1 containing old combs and dressed with sugared ale1 will often decoy a swarm to settle in it4 ,huish recommends sprinkling the interior of the hives with human urine2 which he regards as a specific1 on account of its abounding with sugar and salt1 two substances of which bees are particularly fond3 if such were the fact1 it would ,i think1 be more cleanly1 and therefore a preferable plan1 to mingle those favourite articles with a little ale or water for this purpose4 ,huish himself recommends smearing the interior of the hive with honey1 when a swarm of bees settle in a situation1 from which it cannot be dislodged and made to enter the hive1 by shaking or other forcible means4 ,if urine be attractive to bees1 its attraction must proceed from other qualities than those which he has mentioned2 it does certainly contain a very small portion of salt1 but ,i know of no analysis of healthy human urine1 which admits sugar to be a constituent part of it4 ,a tinkling noise is generally1 though ,i believe erroneously1 considered to be useful in inducing bees to settle4 ,keys recommends the use of a watchman's rattle1 but not till the queen has come forth1 for fear of alarming her too soon1 nor after the bees have begun to cluster4 ,keys advises also the throwing of sand or water among the bees1 to make them cluster2 likewise the making of some very great noise1 such as firing a gun2 some have supposed the bees to mistake a loud noise1 for thunder foreboding a storm2 but this1 instead of causing them to settle1 would rather cause their return to the parent stock4 ,dr4 ,evans suggests the probability of noises being first used1 as signals to the neighbours that a swarm was up1 and being afterwards continued by habit only4 ,the throwing up of handfuls of dust or sand1 is said to make bees descend1 when they soar very high2 these missiles being mistaken for rain4 ,bees1 when swarming1 are generally peaceable1 and if treated gently1 may be hived without danger or difficulty4 ,a remarkable instance of their inoffensiveness at this time is related by ,mr4 ,thorley4 ,wanting to dislodge a swarm from the branches of a codlin-tree1 he placed the hive in the hands of his maid-servant1 who being a novice1 covered her head and shoulders with a cloth1 to guard her face2 on shaking the tree1 most of the bees alighted upon the cloth1 and quickly crept under it1 covering the girl's breast and neck up to her very chin4 ,mr4 ,t4 impressed her with the importance of neither flinching from nor buffeting the bees1 and began immediately to search for the queen2 which on finding1 he gently seized and removed1 but without effecting a dislodgement of the swarm3 thus disappointed1 he suspected that there was a second queen2 which actually proved to be the case3 on securing1 and placing her also in the hive1 with a portion of the bees1 the rest followed in multitudes1 till in two or three minutes not one bee remained upon the girl1 who was thus released from her state of apprehension and alarm1 without feeling the point of a single sting4 ,all persons similarly situated may not be so fortunate1 as1 notwithstanding the greatest precaution1 bees may be provoked to draw their swords4 ,dr4 ,evans relates a case of this kind2 a swarm having settled on the branch of a larch-tree1 and its long tufts of narrow leaves flapping the bees as the bough was shaken1 the woman who hived them1 received above thirty stings4 ,if the weather be windy1 at the time of swarming1 they are often irritable1 and apt to sting2 though clustered1 they will frequently return home3 this last occurrence is generally caused by the absence of a queen2 but it may also be produced by a sudden shower1 or by the transit of a dark cloud4 ,a queen has sometimes a defect in her wings1 or is disabled by some accident2 either of these misfortunes may cause the return of a swarm1 or produce symptoms of discontent after hiving4 ,as many persons doubt the queen's importance to the harmonious union of a swarm1 ,i shall give an instance or two1 to show how essentially necessary her presence is to produce this effect4 ,dr4 ,warder being desirous of ascertaining the extent of the bees' loyalty to their sovereign1 ran the hazard of destroying a swarm1 for this purpose4 ,having shaken on the grass1 all the bees from a hive which they had only tenanted the day before1 he searched for the queen1 by stirring amongst them with a stick4 ,having found and placed her1 with a few attendants1 in a box1 she was taken into his parlour2 where the box being opened1 she and her attendants immediately flew to the window1 when he clipped off one of her wings1 returned her to the box1 and confined her there for above an hour4 ,in less than a quarter of an hour1 the swarm ascertained the loss of their queen1 and instead of clustering together in one social mass1 they diffused themselves over a space of several feet1 were much agitated1 and uttered a piteous sound4 ,an hour afterwards they all took flight1 and settled upon the hedge where they had first alighted1 after leaving the parent stock2 but instead of hanging together1 like a bunch of grapes1 as when the queen was with them1 and as swarms usually hang1 they extended themselves thirty feet along the hedge1 in small bunches1 of forty1 fifty1 or more4 ,the queen was now presented to them1 when they all quickly gathered round her1 with a joyful hum1 and formed one harmonious cluster4 ,at night the ,doctor hived them again1 and on the following morning repeated his experiment1 to see whether the bees would rise2 the queen being in a mutilated state1 and unable to accompany them1 they surrounded her for several hours1 apparently willing to die with her rather than desert her in distress4 ,the queen was a second time removed1 when they spread themselves out again1 as though starching for her3 her repeated restoration to them1 at different parts of their circle1 produced one uniform result1 and these poor loyal and loving creatures1 always marched and counter-marched every way as the queen was laid4 ,the ,doctor persevered in these experiments1 till after five days and nights of fasting1 they all died of famine1 except the queen1 who lived a few hours longer and then died4 ,the attachment of the queen to the working bees1 appeared to be equally as strong as their attachment to her2 though offered honey on several occasions1 during the periods of her separation from them1 she constantly refused it1 disdaining a life that was no life to her1 without the company of those which she could not have4 ,my next instance is contained in the ,transactions of the ,society of ,arts1 c4 for #agij1 in a paper written by ,mr4 ,simon ,manley1 of ,topsham in ,devonshire1 for which the ,society awarded him five guineas4 ,i have before now1 says he1 taken the queen-bee1 while in the act of swarming1 put her into a clean bottle1 and kept her from the swarm a full hour4 ,i have then shown her to several gentlemen1 the swarm continuing to hover1 without settling1 the whole time4 ,i brought her home1 and laid her on the floor of a kitchen window4 ,being moist with her own breath in the bottle1 when ,i took her out she licked herself clean1 and being quite recovered1 was carried out and placed upon the hive she swarmed from4 ,about a handful of her subjects soon found her out1 and seemed much rejoiced at finding her4 ,from thence she rose up1 and pitched upon a currant bush1 and the remainder of the swarm came to her1 and settled at once4 ,swammerdam tried the experiment of fastening the queen by one of her legs to the end of a pole1 by which he induced the bees to follow him wherever he chose4 ,reaumur relates a somewhat similar instance of a bee-man mentioned by ,father ,labbat in his ,travels1 who had the address to conceal the source of his dexterity4 ,wildman's expertness in this way was celebrated far and near4 ,vide chapter on ,uniting ,swarms4 ,in confirmation of the evidence ,i have already given1 of the queen's importance to the well-being of the community1 ,i will advert to some experiments of ,huber4 ,he removed a queen from one of his hives2 the bees were not immediately aware of it1 but continued their labours1 watched over the young1 and performed the whole of their ordinary occupations4 ,in a few hours afterwards1 agitation commenced1 and all appeared to be a scene of tumult2 a singular humming noise was heard1 the bees deserted their young and rushed over the surface of the combs1 with delirious impetuosity4 ,on replacing the queen1 tranquillity was instantly restored2 and from what will be said presently1 it appeared that they knew her individual person4 ,huber varied this experiment with other hives1 in different ways2 instead of restoring their own queen1 he tried to substitute a stranger queen2 the manner of her reception depended upon the period at which she was introduced4 ,if twenty-four hours had elapsed after the removal of the queen1 the stranger was well received1 and at once admitted to the sovereignty of the hive4 ,if not more than eighteen hours had elapsed1 she was at first treated as a prisoner1 but after a time permitted to reign4 ,if the stranger was introduced within twelve hours1 she was immediately surrounded by an impenetrable cluster of bees1 and commonly died either from hunger or privation of air4 ,it appeared therefore1 in the course of these experiments1 that from twenty-four to thirty hours were required1 for a colony to forget its sovereign1 and that if1 before the lapse of that period1 no substitute was presented1 they set about constructing royal cells1 as stated in page #bb2 and moreover1 that if1 during the time they were so occupied1 a princess was brought to them1 the fabrication of royal cells was instantly abandoned1 and the larv selected to occupy them were destroyed4 ,on the admission of a welcome stranger queen1 more regard is perhaps shown to her at first1 than to a restored natural queen1--at least there are more conspicuous demonstrations of it3 the nearest workers touch her with their antenn1 and1 passing their proboscis over every part of her body1 give her honey4 ,in the cases above related1 the bees all vibrated their wings at once1 as if experiencing some agreeable sensations1 and ranged themselves in a circle round her4 ,others1 in succession1 broke through this circle1 and having repeated the same process1 of touching her with their antenn1 giving her honey1 c4 formed themselves in a circle behind the others1 vibrating their wings and keeping up a pleasurable hum4 ,these demonstrations were continued for a quarter of an hour1 when the queen beginning to move towards one part of the circle1 an opening was made through which she passed1 followed and surrounded by her customary guard4 ,such is the substance of ,huber's account3 it does not entirely correspond with what has been stated by ,dunbar4 ,vide chapter on ,bee-boxes4 ,the loyal attachment of bees to their queen extends even beyond this3 ,huber states that he has seen the workers1 after her death1 treat her body as they treated herself when alive1 and long prefer this inanimate body to the most fertile queens he had offered them4 ,and ,dr4 ,evans relates a case1 in which a queen was observed to lie on some honey-comb in a thinly peopled hive1 apparently dying1 and surrounded by six bees1 with their faces turned towards her1 quivering their wings1 and most of them with their stings pointed1 as if to keep off any assailant4 ,on presenting them honey1 though it was eagerly devoured by the other bees1 the guards were so completely absorbed in the care of their queen1 as entirely to disregard it4 ,the following day1 though dead1 she was still guarded2 and though the bees were still constantly supplied with honey1 their numbers were gradually diminished by death1 till1 at the end of three or four days1 not a bee remained alive4 ,wildman says that if the queen of a swarm be lost1 though it happen several weeks after leaving the mother hive1 the bees will return to it1 carrying their honey with them4 ,this1 if true1 must occur where no grub can be converted into a queen4 ,both ,reaumur and ,wildman tried the experiment of introducing a royal larva into a queenless stock1 when the bees immediately set to work again1 on the inspiration of hope alone4 ,should symptoms of discontent be observed after hiving1 the queen will probably be discovered on the ground1 or somewhere apart2 surrounded by a small cluster of attendants1 whom nothing but violence can separate from her4 ,if she be taken up either singly or with the cluster1 and placed near the entrance of the hive containing the swarm1 all will be harmony4 ,sometimes a swarm divides into two portions1 which settle apart from each other and have each a distinct leader4 ,the conduct of the apiarian must be governed by the size of the two divisions1 and the season at which they emerge2 unless both be large and the swarming early1 they had better be hived in separate boxes1 and joined together1 in the manner recommended in ,chap4 ,,xix4 ,columella was the first who proposed union by killing the supernumerary queen4 ,the branch on which the swarm settled is sometimes rubbed with wormwood1 or smoked with disagreeable fumes1 to drive away all remaining loiterers4 ,in every operation1 it is desirable to avoid crushing a single bee1 as1 in case of discovery1 the rest are excited to anger4 ,see chapter on the ,senses of ,bees4 ,immediately on the bees taking to the hive1 it should be placed upon a table1 on a proper floor board1 and be covered with boughs or a cloth2 and the hive should be near the parent stock1 to catch stragglers1 on their return home4 ,at night it should be removed to its permanent station4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,on ,,removing ,,bees ,,from ,,common ,,straw-,,hives ,,to ,,storifying ,,hives ,,or ,,boxes4 ,many plans have been suggested for transferring bees from hives to boxes2 but excepting in the case of a recent swarm1 ,i would not recommend any1 but an experienced apiarian1 to attempt an immediate transfer4 ,in the case of a recent swarm1 the method of effecting the object is simple and easy2 for if1 when the bees have retired for the night1 the hive be placed upon a middle board1 with a divider underneath it1 and the whole be inverted upon a small tub or a peck measure1 and an empty box be raised upon the divider1 this latter being withdrawn1 and every opening besides what is necessary for admitting air being well secured1 the bees will all probably have ascended into the box by morning1 when with the assistance of the dividers they may be placed in the bee-house or any where else that the proprietor chooses1 just as if they had been originally hived in the box4 ,if the ascent have not taken place in the morning1 it may be effected by drumming smartly with two sticks1 upon the sides of the hive3 in this way1 the ascent may be known by the loud humming noise by which it will be accompanied4 ,i have said that the above plan is only to be recommended in cases of recent swarming3 by this ,i mean1 in swarms of the day on which it is attempted1 and before any works are constructed in the hives1 to such an extent as to make the bees tenacious of their new habitation2 for wherever they form a settlement1 though even for the short time that they occupy a bush or tree before hiving1 there are always to be seen the rudiments of one or more combs1 showing1 that they always intend1 7so far as one can give bees credit for intention17 to take up their abode1 permanently1 upon the very spot on which they first cluster round their ,royal ,leader4 ,if however1 from want of forethought or from any other causes1 a swarm have been allowed1 for a longer period1 to occupy a hive from which it is desirable to dislodge it1 in that case ,i would recommend the apiarian1 towards night1 to place the hive upon a middle board with a divider underneath it1 to lute the junction with clay1 so as to prevent the bees from escaping1 and to invert the whole upon a stool that has had an opening made in it of sufficient size to allow the hive to sink about half-way through it4 ,then1 if he raise a couple of empty boxes upon the divider1 in the manner already directed for super-hiving1 and having adjusted the whole1 withdraw the divider1 the bees will soon desist from carrying on their works in the hive1 and commence new ones in the upper box2 the hive at the period of deprivation may be separated from the boxes in the usual way4 ,the middle board that is used on this occasion1 provided the colony be designed to stand out of doors1 must have a resting board attached to the edge of it1 for the bees to alight upon4 ,and as it is intended to serve as a substitute for a floor board1 it must be made to correspond with the floor boards in its construction1 so far as respects its giving liberty for the bees to have ingress and egress1 and its affording a power to shut them in4 ,if it should be thought more convenient1 an entrance could readily be formed1 by cutting a piece out of the lower edge of the box1 in which also a groove might be cut for a slide to run in4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,super- ,,and ,,nadir-,,hiving ,,by ,,means ,,of ,,dividers4 ,when one hive or box is to be raised upon another in a bee-house1 the operation may be performed at any time2 the best time is about ten or eleven o'clock in the morning1 when a great portion of the bees are ranging the fields4 ,if the bees be kept in an out-door hive1 the operation will be best performed in an evening or early in a morning1 when1 all the bees being at home1 they may be shut in and thereby prevented from annoying the operator4 ,if super-hiving be the object of the apiarian1 he must first withdraw the four screws out of the top board of his stock-hive or box1 so as to enable him to push one of his dividers from front to back1 between that board and the box which it covers2 he may then safely take off the top1 and screw it upon an empty box4 7,he would of course be enabled to accomplish the business with more promptitude1 if he have a supernumerary top already screwed down47 ,having put the fresh box upon a middle board1 the whole is to be carefully placed upon the divider1 that covers the stock3 when accurately adjusted to each other1 if an assistant hold firmly in their places the two boxes1 or the inferior box and the middle board1 the divider may be withdrawn1 and thus a communication between the two boxes will immediately be effected1 without the escape1 and perhaps without the destruction1 of a single bee4 ,when ,i have had no assistant near me1 upon whose steadiness ,i could rely1 at the time of withdrawing the divider1 ,i have fixed a piece of double quarter with one of its ends against the inferior box1 and the other against the wall opposite to it1 and have thus effectually prevented the box from moving1 whilst with one hand ,i held firmly the middle board1 and drew out the divider with the other4 ,my readers are to suppose me operating in a bee-house1 for in an out-door apiary an assistant will always be required1 whenever any important operation is to be performed4 ,nadir-hiving is accomplished by introducing both dividers between the floor board and the box or hive which it supports1 the first with its turned edge downwards1 and the other upon it with its turned edge upwards4 ,the box or boxes are then to be removed on one side or upon a table1 together with the upper plate or divider1 which will form a temporary floor to the box1 while the lower plate covers the wooden floor and those few bees that may be lodged upon it4 ,in removing the box or boxes for nadir-hiving1 some caution is requisite1 to prevent the escape of the bees4 ,the safest plan is gradually to draw forward the boxes with their temporary floor1 till they hang nearly half over the wooden floor1 and then1 by spreading out the fingers and applying them under each side of the divider1 the whole may be lifted up and moved wherever it be most convenient till raised upon the nadir4 ,when the box has been drawn half off1 a weight should be placed upon the covering divider1 to prevent it from tilting up4 ,the removal being accomplished1 an empty box should be quickly placed upon the divider which covers the floor1 and upon the box a middle board2 the adjustment being complete1 the dividers are to be withdrawn separately1 and with the same precautions as in super-hiving4 ,if the apiarian wish to practise centre-hiving i4 e4 to introduce an empty box between a superior and an inferior one1 he can easily apply the preceding directions to that particular case4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,uniting ,,swarms ,,or ,,stocks4 ,the union of swarms with their stocks1 and of swarms or stocks with each other1 in case of their being or becoming weak1 has been attempted in various ways1 and with various success1 depending perhaps1 in some degree1 upon the skill and adroitness of the operator4 ,upon the storifying plan this operation will rarely be necessary1 excepting in the case of weak stocks1 as it is not a very common occurrence for storified bees to swarm1 and when they do so1 they generally throw off strong swarms4 ,still the object may occasionally be desirable1 and it is worthy of attention1 for the tenants of well filled hives are always the most active4 ,the three usual methods by which union has been attempted1 and indeed their advocates say1 accomplished1 are fuming them1 immersing them in water1 and aspersing them with sugared or honeyed ale4 ,to these ,i may add a fourth1 namely operating upon their fears1 by confining them for a time1 and then alarming them by drumming smartly upon the outside of their domicile4 ,it was operating on their fears that enabled ,wildman to perform such extraordinary feats with bees4 ,when under a strong impression of fear1 says he1 they are rendered subservient to our wills1 to such a degree as to remain long attached to any place they afterwards settle upon1 and will become so mild and tractable1 as to bear any handling which does not hurt them1 without the least show of resentment4 ,long experience has taught me1 that as soon as ,i turn up a hive1 and give some taps on the sides and bottom1 the queen immediately appears4 ,being accustomed to see her1 ,i readily perceive her at the first glance2 and long practice has enabled me to seize her instantly1 with a tenderness that does not in the least endanger her person4 ,being possessed of her1 ,i can1 without exciting any resentment1 slip her into my other hand1 and returning the hive to its place1 hold her1 till the bees missing her1 are all on the wing1 and in the utmost confusion4 ,when in this state1 he could make them alight wherever he pleased2 for on whatever spot he placed the queen1 the moment a few of them discovered her1 the information was rapidly communicated to the rest1 who in a few minutes were all collected round her4 ,in this way he would sometimes cause them to settle on his head1 or to hang clustered from his chin1 in which state they somewhat resembled a beard4 ,again he would transfer them to his hand1 or to any other part of his body1 or if more agreeable to the spectators before whom he exhibited1 he would cause them to settle upon a table1 window1 c4 ,prior to making his secret generally known1 he deceived his spectators by using words of command2 but the only magic that he employed was the summoning into activity for his purpose the strong attachment of the bees to their queen4 ,such was the spell1 which round a ,wildman's arm ,twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm2 ,bright o'er his breast the glittering legions led1 ,or with a living garland bound his head4 ,his dextrous hand1 with firm yet hurtless hold4 ,could seize the chief1 known by her scales of gold4 ,prune1 'mid the wondering train1 her filmy wing4 ,or1 o'er her folds1 the silken fetter fling4 ,evans4 ,cautioning his readers as to the hazard of attempting1 what he himself accomplished only by long experience and great dexterity1 ,wildman concludes his account with a parody of the reply of ,c4 ,furius ,cresinus1 a liberated ,roman slave1 who1 being accused of witchcraft in consequence of his raising more abundant crops than his neighbours1 and therefore cited before a ,roman tribunal1 produced his strong implements of husbandry1 his well-fed oxen1 and a hale young woman his daughter2 and pointing to them1 said1 ,these1 ,romans6 are my instruments of witchcraft2 but ,i cannot show you my toil1 my sweats1 and anxious cares4 ,so1 says ,wildman1 may ,i say1 ,these1 ,britons6 are my instruments of witchcraft2 but ,i cannot show you my hours of attention to this subject1 my anxiety and care for these useful insects2 nor can ,i communicate to you my experience1 acquired during a course of years4 ,the neatest and most scientific mode with which ,i am acquainted of uniting weak families together in harmony was invented by my friend ,the ,rev4 ,richard ,walond1 whom ,i had occasion to mention in a former chapter1 and whose experience in the management of bees1 for nearly half a century1 entitle his opinions concerning them to great respect4 ,his theory and practice upon this subject are as follow4 ,bees1 says he1 emit a peculiar odour1 and it is by no means improbable that every family of bees emits an odour peculiar to itself3 if so1 as their vision seems to be imperfect1 and their smell acute1 it may be by this distinctive and peculiar odour that they are enabled to discriminate betwixt the individuals of their own family and those of a stranger hive4 ,upon this supposition1 if the odours of two separate stocks or swarms can be so blended as to make them completely merge into each other1 there will then probably be no difficulty in effecting the union of any two families that it may be desirable to unite4 ,to accomplish this end therefore1 ,mr4 ,walond had recourse to a very ingenious contrivance3 he procured a plate of tin1 the size of a divider1 and thickly perforated with holes1 about the size of those in a coarse nutmeg-grater4 ,having confined in their respective hives or boxes1 the two families to be united1 and placed them over each other1 with only a divider between them2 he introduced his perforated tin plate upon the divider1 which was then withdrawn4 ,immediately the bees began to cluster with hostile intentions1 one family clinging to the upper1 the other to the under side of the perforated plate2 when after remaining in this state for about twenty-four hours1 they had so far communicated to each other their respective effluvia1 and so completely commixed were the odours in both hives1 that on withdrawing the perforated plate1 the bees mingled together as one family1 no disturbance being excited1 but such as arose from the presence of two queens1 the custom being always1 in such case1 to dethrone one of them4 ,according to ,huber this is effected by single combat between the queens3 which subject will be adverted to in a future chapter4 ,keys has observed that these incorporations seldom turn to account unless they be effected in summer2 and when it is considered that the principal gathering months are ,may and ,june1 7excepting in those neighbourhoods that abound in lime1 sycamore1 and other trees that are apt to be affected with honey-dew17 we cannot1 of course1 expect them to be very successful4 ,i have entered fully into this subject1 when speaking of early and late swarms1 page #aae4 ,to obviate the consequences there apprehended1 some apiarians have had recourse to the practice of removing their bees to fresh pasture2 to districts where buckwheat is cultivated1 or to the neighbourhood of heaths1 or to any other place where such late blossoming flowers abound as afford honey4 ,mr4 ,isaac assures us that he once had a poor swarm of a month's standing1 which only weighed five pounds four ounces1 and that on the #cjth of ,july he had it removed to ,dartmoor ,heath1 from whence it was brought home1 two months afterwards1 increased in weight twenty-four pounds and a half4 ,he moreover states that the increase of others1 that were sent there1 was nearly proportional1 and is of opinion that the whole addition was made during the month of ,august4 ,in ,lower ,egypt1 where the flower harvest is not so early as in the upper districts of that country1 this practice of transportation is carried on to a considerable extent4 ,the hives after being collected together from the different villages1 and conveyed up the ,nile marked and numbered by the individuals to whom they belong1 are heaped pyramidally upon the boats prepared to receive them1 which floating gradually down the river and stopping at certain stages of their passage1 remain there a longer or shorter time1 according to the produce which is afforded by the surrounding country4 ,after traveling three months in this manner1 the bees1 having culled the perfumes of the orange flowers of the ,said1 the essence of roses,g of the ,faicum1 the treasures of the ,arabian jessamine1 and a variety of flowers1 are brought back to the places from which they had been carried4 ,this industry procures1 for the ,egyptians1 delicious honey1 and abundance of bees-wax4 ,the proprietors1 in return1 pay the boatmen a recompence proportioned to the number of hives which have been thus carried about from one extremity of ,egypt to the other4 ,latreille states that between ,cairo and ,damietta a convoy of #djjj hives were seen upon the ,nile by ,niebuhr1 on their transit from the upper to the lower districts of that country4 ,floating bee-hives were formerly common also in ,france4 ,one barge was capable of containing from #fj to #ajj hives1 which1 floating gently down their rivers1 enabled the bees to gather the honey which is afforded by the flowers on their banks4 ,reaumur likewise states it to have been the practice in some districts to transport them with similar views1 by land1 in vehicles contrived for the purpose4 ,in ,savoy1 ,piedmont1 and other parts of ,italy1 the practice is also common4 ,it is indeed of very ancient origin4 ,columella speaks of it as a very general custom among the ,greeks1 who used annually to send their bee-hives from ,achaia into ,attica4 ,footnote ,g3 ,whatever inducement the bees of ,egypt may have to ply the roses of that country1 with us they pay very little attention to those beautiful flowers4 ,these1 however1 are advantages which very few situations can afford2 probably but few of my readers may reside in the neighbourhood of heaths1 and still fewer may be disposed to incur the trouble and expense of removal4 ,if therefore incorporation be desirable in any particular case1 ,i can only recommend that attention be paid to feeding the bees with sugared ale2 by the assistance of which1 indeed1 ,i should not be afraid of carrying1 even a weak stock1 very safely through the winter and early spring4 ,give your bees1 says ,mr4 ,isaac1 two harvests in one summer 7alluding to the practice of transportation71 and you may make almost any swarm rich enough to live through the following winter4 ,this second harvest may be very efficiently supplied by an attention to feeding1 during mild weather in winter1 and particularly in the early spring1--for the management of which1 see1 ,chap4 ,,xxiii4 on ,feeding4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,proper ,,periods ,,of ,,deprivation4 ,it should be an invariable rule with the apiarian1 never to remove an upper hive or box1 till an under one be quite full2 and even then1 it should be ascertained that the contents of the inferior one1 7if taken at ,michaelmas17 be not less than #ah pounds4 ,if it do not contain so much1 a sufficient quantity should be returned in the box that has been removed1 otherwise recourse must be had to feeding4 ,mr4 ,isaac says that he has carried a colony that had no honey at ,michaelmas1 safely through the winter and spring1 with only eight pounds of honey4 ,huber succeeded with less2 but it appears that his observations were made upon weak stocks that were not altogether destitute4 ,a variety of experiments were made by ,mr4 ,john ,hunter and ,mr4 ,keys1 to ascertain the quantity consumed during the respective months of winter and spring1 and they all led to one conclusion1 namely1 that it amounted upon an average to eight pounds1 taking the season through1 from the beginning of ,october to the end of ,may1 when the spring proves ungenial4 ,during the first six months the consumption was not more than five pounds upon an average1 and the colder the weather the smaller was the consumption4 ,vide #bnd page of ,chap4 ,,xxiv4 ,as a general rule1--no honey should be taken from a colony the first year of its being planted1 though there may be an extraordinary season now and then1 which may justify a departure from this rule2 but neither in such an uncommon year1 nor even in the second year1 should the whole of the combs in any box be taken1 7unless it be clearly ascertained that the centre combs contain no brood17 but only the external ones1 which should be examined carefully one by one1 and the brood-combs1 if any1 be returned in the box to the stock4 ,the apiarian1 as ,huber observes1 if he wish to obtain a considerable quantity of honey1 should endeavour to secure his object rather by the number of his colonies1 than by plundering a few of a great proportion of their treasures4 ,a moderate participation is the most infallible means of preserving the stock4 ,should ,summer signs auspicious ride4 ,and tubes unfailing pour the balmy tide1 ,a full rich harvest1 ,bee-herds1 may ye claim ,from the blithe tenants of your crystal'd frame4 ,but long ere ,virgo weaves the robe of sleet1 ,or binds the hoar-frost sandals round her feet4 ,close seal'd and sacred1 leave your toil-worn hosts4 ,the last kind dole their waning season boasts1 ,lest coop'd within their walls1 the truants prey ,on hoards reserv'd to cheer stern ,winter's day4 ,evans4 ,mr4 ,hubbard says that he has found colonized bees frequently fail1 in consequence of their having been robbed of too much honey2 it prevents early breeding4 ,wildman particularly recommends cautious deprivation after ,july1 to avoid the attention which might be required in feeding1 if the autumn should be unfavourable4 ,so much for the first and second years4--,on the third1 if the summer of that year as well as the summer preceding have been favourable for honey-gathering1 the superior box will probably contain no brood1 and may then be taken all at once4 ,the proceedings of the fourth and fifth years may fall under the practice of the second1 but will probably allow of an earlier deprivation2 some side combs may perhaps be taken away in ,july1 and in ,october either the nadir or the centre box be removed entirely1 and those above 7if more than one7 be brought down1 and remain so till ,april2 when the nadir may be introduced again4 ,no hive or box should have its breeding combs left more than five years2 and in general1 after the first year1 the lower boxes will be found to be principally occupied for this purpose4 ,by this practice for four years out of every five1 whatever combs are removed will be new ones1 which1 on account of the purity both of the wax and the honey1 are greatly preferable to old ones4 ,virgil1 probably copying his predecessor ,aristotle1 describes two harvests of honey every year1 namely1 in the spring and in the autumn4 ,the golden harvest twice each year o'erflows1 ,thou1 twice each year1 the plenteous cells unclose1 ,soon as fair ,pleas1 bright'ning into day4 ,scorns with indignant foot the wat'ry way1 ,or1 when descending down th' arial steep1 ,she pours her pale ray on the wintry deep4 ,sotheby's ,georgics4 ,varro mentions three harvests2 namely1 at the rising of the ,pleiads1 about the twenty-second of ,april2 the latter end of summer1 and when the same stars set about the end of ,october3 ,columella recommends them to take place about the twenty-fifth of ,april and the twenty-ninth of ,june2 ,pliny in ,may and ,july2 and ,palladius in ,june only4--,evans4 ,should such an accident occur as the destruction of a queen1 by the introduction of a divider 7and she might be so unfortunately situated as to fall a sacrifice to it71 the stock will appear very much distressed and very restless all day1 particularly if there be no ,royal ,embryo or no very young larva2 for in either of these cases they will soon become reconciled4 ,but if neither of them be present1 and the bees be left to themselves1 they will lose their wonted activity1 gradually dwindle in number and pine away3 or they will transfer their allegiance to another sovereign2 and in that case1 convey all the treasured sweets of their own hive1 to that of the family they join4 ,the only remedy for such a misfortune is to unite the bees to another stock1 in the manner already directed1 or to procure a supernumerary queen from another family4 ,the latter1 however1 is an operation which few will have courage to attempt4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,taking ,,honey ,,by ,,means ,,of ,,dividers4 ,after having noted the utility of ,dividers1 in adding fresh empty boxes1 the reader will readily perceive their importance in the removal of full ones1 when the period arrives for depriving a colony of a portion of its honey4 ,in this case1 the two dividers must be introduced between the middle board of the box to be removed and the box below it1 precisely as in nadir hiving4 ,in the act of deprivation a little more force will be required to push in1 as well as to withdraw the divider1 as it will generally have to pass through a portion of honey-comb4 ,the above directions apply to the removal of an upper box1 which will in general be the first for which they will be required4 ,when any other is to be taken away1 the plan of proceeding must be varied1 but it would be tedious to give directions for every case2 an intelligent operator by an attention to the instructions already given1 and his own reflection1 will be able to adapt his mode of proceeding to the particular exigency4 ,only one divider should be introduced till the situation of the queen be ascertained3 if she be in the box intended for removal1 the divider must be withdrawn1 and the experiment tried again in a week or two4 ,if in an hour after the introduction of the divider1 the bees in the box intended to be taken should exhibit symptoms of inquietude1 it may be assumed that the queen is not within that box1 the disturbance being caused by the anxiety of the bees to have access to her2 whereas if she be in the box1 the bees in company with her will be tranquil1 and the excluded portion of the family will be in a state of commotion4 ,having1 we will suppose1 ascertained that the queen is in the desired place1 the second divider should be introduced as before directed1 when the box1 with one of the dividers underneath it1 must be removed4 ,the apiarian1 when performing this operation for the first time1 may find it convenient to raise a stage of empty bee-boxes or other convenient articles1 on one side or at the back of the box to be removed1 and upon a level with the bottom of its middle board2 he can then1 after having introduced the dividers1 very easily slide the full box1 with its middle board and divider1 over his temporary stage4 7,this mode of proceeding may likewise be found applicable on other occasions47 ,the operation having proceeded thus far1 the box is ready for being applied over the hole of delivery1 where a floor board should be placed with its sliding shutter open1 and with an uncovered empty box upon it4 7,if the full box were itself placed upon the floor board1 stranger bees might smell the honey and become very troublesome intruders3--this is the reason why an empty box is interposed betwixt the full one and the floor board47 ,the full box and middle board1 with the divider underneath them1 being raised upon the empty box and the divider withdrawn1 a portion of the bees will immediately sally forth1 to join the family from which they have been separated4 ,i say a portion1 for notwithstanding their attachment to their queen1 they will not all quit1 without reluctance1 so great a treasure as a box full of honey2 if any of the combs contain brood also1 this reluctance will be increased4 ,when therefore the bees issue slowly1 the sliding shutter should be closed1 and re-opened in a quarter of an hour4 ,this short imprisonment will produce some impatience and restlessness1 and consequent eagerness to be set at liberty2 and on re-opening the shutter there will be a fresh sally3 this method must be pursued1 at similar successive intervals1 till all or nearly all the bees have quitted the box2 should a few still remain1 the box1 towards evening1 may be taken out of doors and the stragglers brushed out upon a board or cloth1 with a wing1 and placed upon a support near the entrance to the stock2 those that are not injured by the wing will soon find their way in3 thus will the whole operation be completed4 ,but if the upper story be taken1 it will be obvious that either an empty box or a top board must be placed over the stock4 ,if this method of deprivation should fail of success1 some other course must be pursued4 ,mr4 ,isaac's plan promises well4 ,after removing the box from the stock1 he used to confine his bees in it1 till their anger and agitation had rendered their prison so hot and uncomfortable1 and probably so unwholesome1 by the deterioration of the air1 that they were glad of an opportunity to quit it1 which he soon afforded them4 ,unscrewing the top of his box1 and introducing a divider underneath it1 he placed an empty box over the full one1 and opened a communication between the two1 by withdrawing the divider4 ,at the same time he gave an additional impulse to the ascent of the bees by drumming smartly upon the sides of the full box4 ,when the bees were entirely or nearly gone1 he took out either the whole of the combs or such as contained honey without brood1 proceeding according to the directions given in page #afc4 ,there is another resource1 in the method uniformly practised by ,mr4 ,keys1 viz4 that of fuming1 which is effected by placing an empty box over the full one1 in the manner described above1 and expelling the bees with the smoke of burning puff balls1 probably that of woollen rags would answer as well1 though ,mr4 ,keys relies upon the stupifying quality of the puff balls1 which however1 he says1 is in a great measure lost if the balls be kept more than a year4 ,the operation may be afterwards finished in the usual way4 ,where straw-hives are used1 or where boxes are surmounted by them1 a very simple method of taking the honey1 without destroying the bees1 was adopted by ,j4 ,f4 ,m4 ,dovaston1 ,esq4 a ,salopian gentleman4 ,i will suppose that he took off the hive with a middle board and divider underneath it2 he then inverted it upon a kettle of hot water1 fitted to receive the hive without any part sinking into the water2 the whole being surmounted by an empty box1 and the divider withdrawn3 in ten minutes the heat so annoyed the bees1 that they were heard marching1 magno cum fremitu1 into the empty hive4 ,in a few minutes1 when all was quiet1 the divider being introduced again1 the hive was replaced by the box containing the bees4 ,mr4 ,d4 found that on this plan not a single bee remained among the combs4 ,i see no good reason why a similar practice should not be adopted with boxes or ,moreton-hives2 in this case the water in the kettle should be heated gradually by a chaffing-dish1 and the box or hive should have a perforated divider under it1 like that for uniting stocks3 the empty box had better communicate with the open air1 lest the heat of the steam should be intolerable to the bees4 ,having the top unscrewed would probably answer the purpose1 as it could then be easily pushed on one side4 ,dr4 ,evans1 when he could not readily dislodge the bees from the box1 had recourse to ,dr4 ,warder's plan of placing it over an inverted empty box1 that contained a lighted sulphur match1 the fumes of which stupified the bees'2 and on the upper hive being rapped1 they fell down in a state of insensibility1 but soon revived and joined the family1 by the usual entrance4 ,the fumes of sulphur answered as well as those of the narcotic fungus recommended by ,thorley and ,keys1 which it is sometimes difficult to procure and troublesome to prepare4 ,immersing the bees in cold water would answer1 with a glass or earthenware hive4 ,dr4 ,evans was led to adopt it in consequence of reading ,wildman's account of ,madame ,vicat's method of clearing her bees from vermin1 by plunging them in water4 ,the chapter on ,bee-maladies contains some remarks on this subject4 ,at the commencement of my apiarian inquiries1 ,i felt that there was a want of more minute information than is given by ,keys2 and others with whom ,i have conversed upon the subject1 have had the same feeling3 this has induced me to enter into a descriptive detail of the whole business of super-hiving1 nadir-hiving1 and deprivation4 ,those who are in possession of ,the ancient ,bee-master's ,farewell1 will perceive that ,i have made some alterations in the boxes of ,keys and some additions to them3 the principal of these are the sinking of the entrances in the floor boards1 instead of having them cut in the lower edges of the boxes2 having fixed bars upon the tops of the boxes1 instead of ,keys's loose ones1 and the use of middle boards4 ,the first was my own suggestion1 the two last were improvements made by ,mr4 ,walond4 ,entrances made in the floor boards enable the apiarian to place his boxes upon the boards in whatever direction he chooses1 and render sliding shutters in the upper boxes unnecessary4 ,the loose bars were inconvenient1 from the bees attaching their combs to the sides of the boxes1 which they almost always do1 as well as from their attaching every comb to two or three bars4 ,the middle boards facilitate the introduction of the dividers1 secure the apiator against the effects of any little irregularity in the adaptation of the boxes to each other1 at the time of adding or taking away1 and form a good foundation for a superstructure of cell-work2 for sometimes the bees depart from their usual practice of suspending their combs from the roofs of the boxes1 and build from below upwards4 ,it is the usual custom in this country1 to sacrifice the lives of the bees1 in order to get possession of their stores4 ,this is generally done in ,september1 by setting the hive1 late in an evening1 over lighted brimstone matches1 placed in a hole dug in the earth2 the soil being quickly drawn round the hive1 as well to prevent the escape of any of the bees1 as to confine the sulphurous gas4 ,in about a quarter of an hour1 if the hive receive a few smart strokes on its sides1 the bees will be found to have dropped insensible into the hole1 where they are immediately buried2 otherwise they would revive1 such of them at least as were not singed or otherwise injured by the fire4 ,the heaviest and lightest hives are usually selected for the purpose1 the former as yielding most profit1 the latter as being unlikely to survive the winter4 ,if1 after a hive of bees has been suffocated1 the apiarian wish to search for the queen1 the best mode of doing so is to lay the whole of the bees on white paper1 or in water on a white shallow dish1 and examine them singly2 her colour upon the back is not so remarkably different from that of the workers as to be very striking2 but on looking at the under part of her1 she will be immediately recognised4 ,i adverted to this latter mode of robbing bees of their treasure in ,chap4 ,,xiv4 and there quoted the lamentation of ,thomson at their fate4 ,for this humane appeal1 he has been thus apostrophized by ,dr4 ,evans4 ,and thou1 sweet ,thomson1 tremblingly alive ,to pity's call1 hast mourn'd the slaughter'd hive1 ,cursing1 with honest zeal1 the coward hand1 ,which hid1 in night's dark veil1 the murd'rous brand1 ,in steam sulphureous wrapt the peaceful dome1 ,and bore the yellow spoil triumphant home4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,bee-,,dress4 ,the ,storifying system1 when conducted with proper precaution1 in a bee-house1 renders a bee-dress quite superfluous to the apiarian1 as all his operations may be safely performed at all times and in all weathers1 without one4 ,they may be as securely performed1 by the storifier in a simple shed1 if the time of operating be either early or late in the day1 when the bees are all at home and can be confined by shutting the slide of the floor board4 ,still1 as timidity may foster a feeling of insecurity1 and as the armour of a bee-dress may give confidence to an operator1 ,i shall describe the dress that appears to me most suitable4 ,in the first place the apiator should be armed with a pair of thick cloth gloves1 made to tie over the sleeves of his coat4 ,secondly1 his legs should be fortified by a double pair of thick woollen or worsted stockings1 or some kind of stout leggings as they are called4 ,and thirdly1 he should be provided with a short dress of ,scotch gauze or catgut4 ,this dress should be so formed as to tie round the crown of a hat having a shallow brim 7about #b inches deep71 should have short sleeves to tie round the arms1 and descend low enough to tie round the body4 ,a woollen apron should also be worn1 as high as the bottom of the catgut dress1 otherwise1 in the language of ,mr4 ,keys1 the prying little insects may find an opening of sufficient size to enable them to tickle the belly4 ,women1 says ,mr4 ,k4 should not meddle with bees1 without a bee-dress1 nor then without the addition of a man's coat1 and ,i had almost said of breeches also4 ,this dress is the most complete mode of securing an operator from bees or wasps2 but if he be adventurous enough to brave their attacks1 ,i recommend him first to drink or rinse his mouth with a little malt liquor2 to wash his face and hands with the same1 and to approach them with a bunch of sweet herbs in his hand1 gently fanning his face with them1 whilst he is in the vicinity of their domicile1 and breathing as much as possible through his nose4 7,vide ,part ,,ii4 ,bee's ,sting47 ,in case of an actual or threatened attack1 7the latter of which may be known by the peculiar noise which precedes it17 a defence by striking at them would be highly imprudent4 ,an attempt may be first made to put them gently away2 should that not succeed1 the only resource is to retire quietly1 and to conceal the face in shrubs or boughs1 if any be near1 or if not with the hands spread over it4 ,the bees will then generally desist from further attack1 and go home4 ,the smart quick strokes of the wings1 when bees are angry and prepared to sting1 give a sound very different from their usual buz4 ,instead1 says ,mr4 ,hunter1 of that soft contented noise made by the bee when coming home loaded on a fine evening1--when a bee meditates an attack with its sting1 it makes a very different one4 ,there is a piercing shrillness in the sound1 as the author and some of his friends have often experienced4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 after quoting a passage from ,mr4 ,white's ,natural ,history1 relative to the feigned attacks of some wild bees near ,lewes in ,sussex1 which with a sharp and hostile sound dash and strike round the heads and faces of intruders1 make the following observations4 ,the hive-bee will sometimes have recourse to the same expedient1 when her hive is approached too near1 and thus give you notice what you may expect1 if you do not take her warning and retire4--,humble-bees when disturbed1 whether out of the nest or in it1 assume some very grotesque and at the same time threatening attitudes4 ,if you put your finger to them1 they will either successively or simultaneously lift up the three legs of one side2 turn themselves upon their back1 bend up their anus and show their sting accompanied by a drop of poison4 ,sometimes they will even spirt out that liquor4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,feeding4 ,a stock of bees will1 generally1 consume a pound of honey per month1 betwixt the #ast of ,october and the #ast of ,march3 from this time to the end of ,may1 they will consume two pounds per month2 if the spring be unfavourable for gathering early1 and less than ten pounds of honey per stock have been left for their winter's support1 and that winter have proved mild1 the bees should be fed early in the season1 and sometimes through a considerable part of the month of ,may4 ,i believe the best spring food for bees is the following compound3 ,a pound of coarse brown sugar and half a pint of ale or sweet wort1 boiled to the consistence of a syrup1 to which may be added a small portion of salt4 ,according to ,huber the coarsest sugar enables the bees to form the whitest wax4 ,the above mixture is regarded1 by some1 as a useful food for bees even when there is no deficiency of honey2 it is supposed to encourage early breeding1 and to preserve the health of the bees2 ,i administer it invariably from the end of ,february or the beginning of ,march till the bees seem to disregard it1 which always happens as soon as the flowers afford them a supply of honey4 ,there are two opinions upon the best mode of administering the syrup3 one party gives the preference to daily feeding1 in small quantities2 the other1 to introducing a considerable quantity at once1 and repeating it as occasion may require4 ,the majority of apiarians favour the latter practice2 among the number are ,reaumur1 ,thorley1 ,isaac1 ,morris1 c4 the latter gentleman obtained an award often guineas from the ,society of ,arts1 for his method of feeding4 ,the advocates of the first method are ,keys1 ,espinasse1 and some others4 ,copious feeding in effected by filling the cells on one side of a spare drone comb1 laid flat upon the floor of the hive2 or by pouring the syrup into a dish1 or an excavated floor board of twice the usual thickness1 covering the food with short straws or pieces of reed1 about half an inch long1 to prevent the bees from soiling themselves4 ,the stock being placed in an evening over the whole1--in the course of the night1 or the following morning1 the bees will carry up the syrup1 and store it in unoccupied cells4 ,where it has been ascertained that the bees have not stored a sufficient quantity of honey to carry them through the winter and ensuing spring1 and it is determined to furnish them with a supply in the autumn1 ,i think this method of copious feeding is the best4 ,but when they are fed in the spring1 ,i think it preferable to give them about a table-spoonful a day4 ,this has generally been accomplished1 by introducing into the mouth of the hive a long boat1 formed by scooping out the pith from an elder stem1 and filling it with the composition4 ,upon this plan1 no more is introduced than the case requires1 and frequent opportunities are afforded of learning the condition of the bees1 from the manner in which they receive the boon4 ,if a little irascibility be exhibited1 it is a symptom of health2 and though indifference to the proffered bounty may not actually betoken mischief1 yet it deserves attention1 and should induce vigilance in the apiarian4 ,feeding upon the large scale in spring1 tempts the bees to fill those cells which may be wanted for the queen to deposit her eggs in1 and thus proves a drawback upon the strength and prosperity of the hive4 ,it may also cause the bees to partake too freely of the syrup1 and suffer from their intemperance4 ,whichever mode be adopted1 the external entrances must be closed1 during the time of feeding2 and ,i know of no better contrivance for this purpose than ,mr4 ,huish's tin guards4 ,without this precaution1 unfed stranger bees1 attracted by the smell of the syrup1 will banquet upon it2 and these marauders1 having once tasted the repast1 will not only return to it again and again themselves1 but bring in their train a multitude of others1 to the great injury of the well-fed apiary4 ,the way in which ,i feed my own bees is exceedingly simple1 and attended with no risk to the apiarian4 ,at the close of the gathering season1 ,i turn my boxes and their floors a quarter round1 and adapt to them a long narrow box with a glass top and two openings1 one at the end1 serving as a street door1 the other in the side serving as a hall door leading into the box1 as shown in the following sketch4 ,illustration ,in an evening1 when the bees are all at home1 ,i push in the slide of the floor board1 raise the glazed box1 and place the syrup under it3 then ,i close the external entrance1 and withdraw the slide to admit the bees to the food3 by morning ,i generally find that my donation has been removed4 ,i place the syrup in a small shallow saucer1 covered over with ,scotch gauze1 through which the bees suck it without smearing their wings4 ,if the gauze hang over the sides of the saucer1 it will act as a syphon1 and the syrup be wasted3 to obviate this inconvenience1 a small hoop of whale-bone1 cane1 or other pliable material should be just dropped within the edges of the saucer1 and upon this hoop the gauze should be stretched1 turned over and secured with a needle and thread4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,bees4 ,i suspect that much which has been written upon this subject is fanciful1 and that most of the ailments of bees originate from want of cleanliness or want of food2 for if bees be not kept clean1 and be not supplied with food in backward springs1 particularly in those which succeed mild winters1 a mortality among them is usually experienced2 and it is in spring that their alleged maladies prevail4 ,for late the lynx-ey'd scout1 in nice survey1 ,had mark'd the ravage of ungenial ,may1 ,where the lorn bee-herd wail'd his empty shed1 ,its stores exhausted1 and its tenants dead4 ,so mourn'd ,arcadia's swain,h his honey'd host1 ,by keen disease or keener famine lost4 ,till his fond mother1 on her glassy throne1 ,heard through deep ,peneus',i wave the filial moan4 ,evans4 ,footnote ,h3 ,aristus1 the son of ,apollo and the nymph ,cyrene1 to whom mankind were said to be indebted for the art of curdling milk1 managing bees1 making hives1 and cultivating olives2 on which account he was worshipped as a ,god by the ,greeks4 ,he was the father of the unfortunate ,acton4 ,footnote ,i3 ,a river of ,thessaly4 ,during a mild winter the stock of honey is often exhausted1 such a season encouraging the bees to be active1 without affording any resources beyond their own domicile2 yet it is not uncommon to hear the keepers of bees speak of a mild winter as favourable for the bees4 ,it is most unfavourable to them2 and if feeding be not duly attended to1 frequently fatal4 ,hence a northern aspect has been recommended for hives during winter2 and if guarded by proper coverings1 and contrivances against snow and other bad weather1 such an aspect is highly proper4 ,the ,rev4 ,stephen ,white observes1 that if hives be placed on the northern side of a building1 the bees will seldom be induced to come out1 and will eat much less than if exposed to the winter's sun4 ,mr4 ,gedde recommends keeping them during winter1 not only in a cold1 but in a dark situation1 in order to lessen the consumption of honey4 ,he even suggests the use of an ice-house1 having found that bees survive the cold in ,siberia1 and render ,russia somewhat remarkable for its productiveness of honey4 ,a very observing gentleman1 says ,dr4 ,darwin1 at my request1 put two hives for many weeks into a dry cellar1 and observed1 during all that time1 that they did not consume any of their provision1 for their weight did not decrease1 as it had done when they were kept in the open air4 ,the same observation is made in the ,annual ,register for #agfh1 p4 #aac4 ,the sudden transitions from heat to cold1 and from cold to heat1 experienced in this country1 are detrimental to bees2 but these vicissitudes would not alarm me1 if the bees were well sheltered1 and had a convenient supply of water1 salt and sugar1 in the early part of the spring4 ,keys thought they were not fond of salt3 from my own experience as well as from that of my apiarian friends1 ,i am satisfied that he was mistaken1 and my opinion is confirmed by the following observation in ,crevecur's ,travels4 ,one day1 having remarked that my bees frequently settled on spots1 where brine had been spilt1 ,i placed some grains of salt before their hives4 ,what was my astonishment1 when ,i saw them repeatedly tasting it with eagerness1 and carrying it away with them6 ,before this experiment1 ,i could not have believed that the manufacturers of honey could taste with pleasure1 a substance so different from the nectar of flowers4 ,in the winter of #aghb-c1 a general mortality took place among the bees in this country1 which was attributed to various causes3 want of honey was not one of them2 for in some hives considerable store was found1 after the bees were gone4 ,some were of opinion that it arose from the preceding being a bad breeding year1 and thought the bees died of old age4 ,others attributed it to the moistness of the spring of #aghc1 which rendered the providing of pollen difficult1 for without pollen no brood can be raised4 ,the difficulty of collecting pollen was ascribed to the continual closing of the flowers over the anthers1 the want of sun to burst the anthers1 and the washing away of the pollen by the frequent showers after they did burst4 ,the fatal influence ascribed to the wetness of the spring of #aghb seems to be improbable2 though the wet might have affected the quantity of bees bred1 it was not likely to put a stop to their breeding altogether1 and the young bees ought at any rate to have escaped the desolating evil1 if it were old age alone2 yet wherever the mortality once made its appearance1 every bee became its victim4 ,a similar incident occurred among the wasps in the year #ahbd4 ,the queen wasps were unusually numerous in the spring of that year1 and yet scarcely a wasp could be seen of any sort in the ensuing summer and autumn1 though there was a great deal of fine weather and plenty of sunshine1 the fruits having ripened remarkably well4 ,in both cases1 it seems probable that the mortality arose from some unfavourable circumstance at the breeding season1 with which we are unacquainted4 ,i am not aware that it has been attributed to any specific distemper of an epidemical nature4 ,mr4 ,knight noticed a similar occurrence1 as to wasps1 in the year #ahjf 7,philosophical ,transactions #ahjg1 p4 #bdc72 and in #ahae1 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence made the same observation4 ,mr4 ,knight supposed the scarcity to arise from a want of males to impregnate the queens4 ,i shall now proceed to notice the maladies of bees2 and state their causes1 symptoms and remedies1 as ,i have collected them from ancient and modern authors4 ,dysentery4 ,this malady was attributed by ,columella to the bees extracting and feeding upon honey collected from the blossoms of elms and spurge2 he regarded it as an annual distemper4 ,by others it has been ascribed to their feeding too freely upon the vernal honey1 from whatever source derived2 or from their being obliged to eat wax1 through want of other food1 in the early part of the spring4 ,madame ,vicat supposed it to arise from the feeding upon honey that had been candied1 in consequence of the hive being exposed to a severe winter4 ,reaumur instituted some experiments to ascertain the cause of dysentery1 but they were not satisfactory4 ,the presence of this disorder is indicated by the appearance of the excrement1 which1 instead of a reddish yellow1 exhibits a muddy black colour1 and has an intolerably offensive smell4 ,also by its being voided upon the floors1 and at the entrance of the hives1 which bees1 in a healthy ,state1 are particularly careful to preserve clean4 ,huish compares the morbid excrement to linseed4 ,vertigo4 ,vertige1 as ,du ,carne de ,blangy calls it1 is supposed to arise from the bees extracting the honey of deleterious plants4 ,i have treated fully upon this subject under the head of ,pasturage4 ,in addition to what has been there stated ,i will give an extract from ,dr4 ,barton's ,paper1 who after observing that there is more poetry than philosophy in the following lines of ,pope-- ,in the nice bee what sense so subtly true ,from poisonous herbs extracts the healing dew8 says3 ,it is however much to be questioned whether this noxious honey proves so to the bees themselves4 ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,smith asserts that the nectar of plants is not poisonous to bees4 ,syllabus to ,botan4 ,lect4 ,and ,dr4 ,barton1 though disposed to adopt the contrary opinion1 gives instances to the same effect4 ,thus a party of young men1 induced by the prospect of gain1 having removed their hives from ,pennsylvania to the ,jerseys1 whose vast savannahs were finely painted with the flowers of the ,kalmia angustifolia1 could not use or dispose of their honey1 on account of its intoxicating quality2 yet1 the bees increased prodigiously1 an increase only to be explained by their being well and harmlessly fed4 ,this disorder is marked1 we are told1 by a dizzy manner of flying1 and by irregular motions1 such as starting1 falling down1 c4 when the bees are pursuing their usual occupations4 ,to these symptoms succeed lassitude and death4 ,no remedy has hitherto been discovered for this malady4 ,huber says that vertigo attacks ants1 and causes them to lose the power of moving in a straight line1 and occasions the performance of rapid gyrations always in the same direction3 he observed one insect make about #ajjj turns in an hour1 describing a circle of about an inch in diameter2 this continued for seven days3 he does not say whether he ever knew any instance of a recovery4 ,in ,dr4 ,barton's ingenious paper1 to which ,i have already referred in the chapter on ,pasturage1 the plants enumerated as yielding poisonous honey are ,kalmia angustifolia1 latifolia1 and hirsuta2 ,rhododendron maximum1 ,azalea nudiflora1 and ,andromeda mariana4 ,the honey of these is stated to have proved injurious both to dogs and the human species4 ,the symptoms it usually produces are dimness of sight or vertigo1 delirium1 ebriety1 pain in the stomach and bowels1 convulsions1 profuse perspiration1 foaming at the mouth1 vomiting and purging2 in some instances1 temporary palsy of the limbs1 but very seldom death4 ,the best mode of treatment is not yet ascertained2 though the similarity of the symptoms1 the ,doctor says1 would induce us to pursue the same plan as in counteracting other narcotic poisons4 ,in those cases1 early vomiting1 whether spontaneous or induced by art1 removes the disease at once2 and cold bathing1 so useful in other spasmodic or convulsive affections1 is employed with considerable advantage by both ,natives and ,europeans4 ,this should seem to be one of those cases in which the stomach-pump would be peculiarly beneficial1 from the promptness and certainty of its action4 ,to the credit of the genus of plants last named1 it should be mentioned that one species 7,andromeda nitida or lucida of ,bartram7 affords abundance of excellent honey2 hence the name of honey-flower is given to it1 by the country people in ,georgia and ,carolina1 not however merely from the circumstance just mentioned1 but from the regular position of the flowers on the peduncle1 which open like the cells of a honey-comb1 and from the odour of these flowers1 which greatly resembles that of honey4--,barton4 ,as most of the plants enumerated in the above list are now introduced into our gardens1 and the ,datura 7common ,thorn ,apple7 has long become perfectly naturalized1 they might be supposed to injure the ,british honey4 ,most probably1 however1 their proportion to the whole of the flowers in bloom1 is too small to produce any such inconvenience2 whereas on their native continent they exclusively cover whole tracts of country1 as instanced above in the ,jerseys4 ,evans1 ,b4 ii4 p4 #ie4 ,tumefaction of the ,antenn4 ,the antenn1 in this disorder1 become swelled at their extremities1 which resemble the bud of a flower ready to open1 and they assume a yellow colour1 of which the forepart of the head shortly partakes2 the bees becoming gradually languid and dying1 if they have not timely assistance4--,this malady occurs about the month of ,may4 ,pestilence1 or ,faux ,couvain 7as ,schirach calls it74 ,pestilence has been reckoned among bee-maladies1 and attributed to the residence of dead larv in the cells1 from a careless deposition of ova by the queen1 7the head of the grub not being placed in a proper position for exclusion1 when that period has arrived17 it has also been ascribed to cold1 and to bad nursing1 that is1 feeding with unwholesome food4 ,treatment4 ,the remedies which have been found most successful in all these maladies1 excepting vertigo1 are cordials1 namely wine and sugar4 ,this circumstance1 taken in conjunction with their occurring at the spring of the year1 tends to confirm my opinion that the ailments of bees arise from hunger and filth4 ,cleanliness and timely supplies of sugared ale1 particularly during the months of ,february and ,march1 are the preventive remedies which have hitherto preserved my bees in a state of healthful activity4 ,in ungenial springs1 feeding should be continued even through a considerable part of ,may1 if the preceding autumn have been unfavourable1 or if a cold ,may have succeeded to warm weather in early spring1--the earliest vernal flowers affording but a scanty supply of honey4 ,the apiarian is sometimes astonished that he should lose his bees at this advanced season of the year1 when but a short time before he had seen them in full health and activity4 ,had he afforded that food which his bees could not obtain from a comparatively immature and honeyless vegetation1 their hives would still have gladdened him with the spectacle of a thriving population4 ,if e'er dank autumn1 with untimely storm1 ,the honey'd harvest of the year deform1 ,or the chill blast1 from ,eurus' mildew wing1 ,blight the fair promise of returning spring1 ,full many a hive but late alert and gay1 ,droops in the lap of all-inspiring ,may4 ,evans4 ,the reader must now perceive the importance of feeding1 and that the transition from health to languor and death is less frequently to be ascribed to disease1 than to the want of the necessary means to continue the vital energy4 ,the suddenness of the unhappy change may reasonably lead the uninformed or improvident to suppose that an incurable malady has visited their hives3--so long as the store of honey lasted1 there were health and prosperity2 but that gone1 famine commenced its ravages1 and an extinction of the bees of course followed4 ,a little foresight and a little trouble would have kept off the calamity4 ,i am perhaps tediously particular in this notice4 ,i wish to impress my noviciate bee-friends with the necessity of thus providing for their hives1 that the most frequent agent of mischief1--hunger1--may be kept out of them4 ,still further let me also recommend to them1 on the approach of winter to have the floors of their hives or boxes well cleaned from insects and their eggs1 and from all heterogeneous matter4 ,this is a business which the bees themselves1 when the weather admits of it1 are particularly attentive to2 indeed they refrain1 as much as possible1 from dropping their excrement upon the floors1 taking advantage of every fine day in winter to sally forth and get rid of it4 ,this was proved by the experiments of ,mr4 ,hunter3 indeed they sometimes fall a sacrifice to their personal neatness in this respect1 their bodies becoming so swelled1 from the accumulation of fces1 as completely to disable them from flying1 when the weather is sufficiently favourable to admit of their going out2 in consequence of which1 they fall to the ground and perish4 ,schirach and others recommend1 in cases of ,faux ,couvain1 to cut out the infected combs1 and to clean and fumigate the hive by burning aromatics under it4 ,in ,butler's ,feminine ,monarchie1 we are gravely told of a certain bee-mistress1 who1 finding her hives fruitless1 and their tenants pining away with sickness1 by the advice of another female1 went to receive the eucharist1 and having kept it in her mouth1 placed it1 on her return home1 in one of the diseased hives4 ,the plague ceased2 honey accumulated2 and1 on examining the inside1 she found a waxen chapel and altar1 of wondrous architecture1 and even bells of the same materials4--,gent4 ,mag4 #ahji4 p4 #caf4 ,to prove that there is much of fancy in the traditional accounts respecting bee-maladies1 ,i will mention the various hypotheses concerning dysentery4 ,columella speaks of its arising from the bees feeding upon honey collected from elm and spurge blossoms2 my own neighbourhood abounds with both2 but ,i never met with nor scarcely heard of dysentery among the bees here4 ,evelyn in his ,sylva expresses doubts upon the subject2 and ,dr4 ,evans says he made particular inquiries of some friends in ,worcestershire1 which 7like this county--,herefordshire7 abounds with elms1 without obtaining satisfactory information4 ,dysentery has also been said to be produced by a surfeit of vernal honey1 simply as such1 from whatever flowers derived3 were this true it would occur in all neighbourhoods4 ,with respect to its proceeding from their eating wax1 ,i am decidedly of opinion that wax never constitutes any part of their food1 under any circumstances2 not a tittle of evidence can be adduced in support of such an assertion4 ,wax is an excrementitious matter1 secreted among the abdominal folds of the bees for the sole purpose of constructing the honey and brood-combs3 the scraps of wax that are observed in winter and spring upon the hive floors1 and which1 to the minds of common observers1 convey the idea that they are crumbs caused by the bees consuming the wax for food1 are produced by their nibbling the lids of the cells to uncover the honey4 ,if ,madame ,vicat's theory were correct1 what would become of all the bees in ,siberia and other northern regions8 ,huish says he never found honey in this country to candy in the combs1 but adds that ,bonner assured him that he had experienced it4 ,vide chapter on ,honey4 ,kirby and ,spence have given it as their opinion1 that dysentery arises from the bees having an insufficiency of pollen or bee-bread to eat with their honey4 ,we have no evidence that pollen constitutes any part of the food of adult bees2 and if it did1 they have generally opportunities of storing it very abundantly1 in the autumn1 as well as in the spring3 and such is the provident industry of bees1 that a considerable surplus is always found in every stock-hive4 ,wildman and ,huish recommend salt for preserving the health of bees2 and their frequenting stable drains and other receptacles of urine gives countenance to this recommendation1 as it seems probable that the saline matter contained in those fluids attracts the bees1 their desire for it overcoming that repugnance to offensive odours which would otherwise occasion them to avoid such places4 ,even fresh urine has been recommended by ,ranconi1 an ,italian author1 in case the bees should be attacked by dysentery2--in all probability a weak solution of salt would be more acceptable and equally efficacious4 ,i always introduce a small portion of it into the syrup with which ,i feed my bees4 ,keys says that they are not fond of salt4 ,vide ,page #ahf4 ,i will close this chapter on the ,diseases of ,bees with an extract from ,nicholson's ,journal1 vol4 xxiii4 p4 #bcd3 ,scientific ,intelligence4 ,a large swarm of bees having settled on a branch of the poison ash1 7,rhus ,vernix17 in the county of ,west ,chester in ,america1 was taken into a hive of fir at three o'clock in the afternoon1 and removed to the place where it was to remain1 at nine4 ,about five the next morning the bees were found dead1 swelled to double their natural size1 and black1 except a few1 which appeared torpid and feeble1 and soon died on exposure to the air4 ,this was attributed to their being poisoned by the effluvia of the ,rhus ,vernix4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,enemies ,,of ,,bees4 ,among the enemies of bees are enumerated various kinds of birds1 poultry1 mice1 wax-moths1 slugs1 hornets1 wasps1 woodlice1 ants1 and spiders4 ,the most destructive enemies of the bee1 in this country1 are wasps1 whose superior strength1 boldness and number1 enable them to commit great ravages in a hive4 ,one wasp is supposed to be a match for three bees1 and1 to filch a belly-full of honey1 will oppose a host of bees in a very daring manner4 ,the wax-moth 7,tinea mellonella7 is also a dangerous enemy4 ,mr4 ,espinasse says that this is the smallest of the genus1 and it is of a whitish brown colour4 ,the butterfly usually appears about weak hives in ,april1 and may be seen till the end of ,october4 ,this insect is remarkably active in its movements2 and if the approach to the hives be observed of a moonlight evening1 the moths will be found flying1 or running round the hives1 watching an opportunity to enter2 whilst the bees that have to guard the entrances against their intrusion1 will be seen acting as vigilant sentinels1 performing continual rounds near this important post1 extending their antenn to the utmost1 and moving them to the right and to the left alternately4 ,woe to the unfortunate moth that comes within their reach6 ,it is curious1 says ,huber1 to observe how artfully the moth knows to profit1 to the disadvantage of the bees1 which require much light for seeing objects2 and the precautions taken by the latter in reconnoitring1 and expelling so dangerous an enemy4 ,adroitly gliding between the guards1 the moths will often contrive to insinuate themselves1 unperceived1 into the hives1 and riot upon the honey4 ,when they have obtained possession1 they deposit their eggs upon the sides of the combs2 the caterpillar is formed and inclosed in a case of white silk2 at first1 it is like a mere thread1 but gradually increases to the size of a quill1 and during its growth feeds upon the wax around it4 ,it seems very extraordinary1 and would be almost incredible if the fact were not well attested1 that such tiny creatures should live in the midst1 and at the expense of myriads of such formidable insects as bees1 protected as they are by coats of mail1 armed with weapons of offence1 and ever watchful of their treasure4 ,such1 however1 is the havoc sometimes made by these apparently insignificant1 but active enemies1 as now and then to compel a colony of bees to emigrate1 and seek another habitation4 ,in this country1 where the apiary is generally situated near the dwelling1 birds do not commit any great ravages4 ,mr4 ,espinasse thinks that in general they come only for dead bees and larv1 which may have been thrown out of the hives4 ,but in ,america1 according to ,mr4 ,hector ,st4 ,john1 the king bird1 the protector of corn-fields from the depredation of crows1 is a great destroyer of bees4 ,after shooting these birds1 ,mr4 ,st4 ,john has found bees in their craws1 from one of which he took as many as a hundred-and-seventy-one3 on laying them all on a blanket in the sun1 fifty-four of them returned to life1 licked themselves clean1 and joyfully went back to their hives4 ,many wonderful tales of this kind have been told1--such as the recovery of flies that had been inclosed for a considerable time in bottles of liquor 7madeira74 ,an instance of this is related by ,wildman1 who says his informant was a very ingenious and accurate gentleman3--that the madeira had been brought1 in bottle1 from ,virginia to ,london1 and that the flies when exposed to a warm sun for an hour or two1 were so completely reanimated1 as to take wing2 thus putting to the test1 as ,wildman's friend observed1 the truth of the opinion1 that a fly cannot be drowned4--,a very marvellous tale was related last year in the newspapers1 of the recovery of some apparently dead bees after the substance containing them had been submitted to a considerable heat or to a chemical process4 ,mr4 ,st4 ,john's statement is within the bounds of credibility3 it seems to have been a case of suspended animation of short continuance1 not produced by exposure to gas or to any liquid likely to prove deleterious to them2 and it is well known that bees often recover even after suffocation with sulphurous gas4 ,bees may be immersed in water for a long time1 without loss of life4 ,reaumur saw them recover after nine hours immersion4 ,dr4 ,evans accidentally left some eighteen hours in water2 when laded out with a spoon and placed in the sunshine the majority of them recovered4 ,other animals1 of analogous species1 exhibit still more wonderful resurrections4 ,de ,geer has observed one species of mite to live for some time in spirit of wine2 and ,mr4 ,kirby states that being desirous of preserving a very pretty lady-bird1 and not knowing how to accomplish it1 he immersed it in geneva4 ,after leaving it1 says he1 in this situation a day and a night1 and seeing it without motion1 ,i concluded it was dead1 and laid it in the sun to dry4 ,it no sooner1 however1 felt the warmth than it began to move1 and afterwards flew away4 ,this circumstance laid the foundation of ,mr4 ,k4's study of entomology4 ,of this adherence to life1 advantage has been taken at the time of deprivation1--recourse having been had to immersion for removing a portion of the combs1 the bees were afterwards spread on a cloth in the sun1 and became reanimated4 ,dr4 ,derham says that he has known bees revive after remaining twenty-four hours under an exhausted air-pump4 ,after long submersion the proboscis of the bee is generally unfolded1 and stretched to its full length4 ,the first symptom of returning animation1 is a motion at its extremity1 succeeded by a similar motion at the extremities of the legs4 ,having so far progressed towards recovery1 the tongue is soon folded up again1 and the bee prepared to resume its customary occupations4 ,moths and spiders should be watched and destroyed in an evening1 as at that time the former are hovering about1 and the latter laying their snares2 at that time too there would be less danger of annoying the bees1 or of being annoyed by them4 ,wherever moths have gained possession of a hive1 it is always necessary to destroy the bees1 or to drive them into another hive4 ,attention to the following particulars may guard the bees from many of their enemies4 ,a frequent cleaning of the hive floors2 the use of new or well cleaned hives2 the timely renewal of the coverings1 and keeping the ground bare around the apiary1 particularly in front of it4 ,this last precaution may also prevent the entanglement of the bees in rubbish or long straggling vegetables1 should they on their return home fall down through fatigue or the weight of their loads4 ,from rats and mice the surest safeguard is an appropriate position of the hives2 traps may also be laid1 and in winter the entrances into the hives contracted4 ,it will be prudent likewise to case the legs of the bee-benches with tin4 ,bees in a healthy vigorous state will attack and kill an intruding mouse2 but in winter it might commit great depredations1 and cause the emigration of the bees on the return of warm weather4 7,mr4 ,espinasse says that he has known a mouse take up his winter quarters in a hive1 without destroying the bees47 ,for protection against ants1 which sometimes enter the hives and eat the honey1 ,mr4 ,cobbett1 in his ,cottage ,economy1 recommends that the pedestals or legs of the benches supporting the hives should be surrounded by a green stick1 twisted into a circular form and covered with tar2 and if the ant nest can be traced1 that boiling water should be poured into the centre of it1 at night1 when all the family are at home4 ,the tarring of the stick should be repeated every two or three days3 the legs of the stool1 or the posts on which the shed stands1 may also be tarred4 ,some bees may be lost by sticking in the tar1 but this disadvantage will be more than counter-balanced by the destruction of the ants4 ,slaked lime may be beneficially spread about a foot wide round the apiary4 ,the usual custom has been to renew this sprinkling of lime every two or three days3 but the experiments of ,mr4 ,coleridge 7,southey's ,brazil1 i4 #fde7 show that this step is unnecessary3 by exposure to the air1 lime is converted into chalk2 and according to ,mr4 ,c1 7who states that the formic acid transpires from the bodies of ants so as to leave its traces upon the substances which they traverse17 if ants attempt to pass over chalk1 the effervescence produced between the chalk and the acid will be so considerable as to burn their legs4 ,it has been said that a bee cannot kill an ant1 when bitten2 but that the bee instead of making resistance1 flies away and carries the ant with it4 ,m4 ,reaumur was of opinion that ants were not to be reckoned among the enemies of bees2 and he relates an instance of their living as very close neighbours1 yet in perfect harmony4 ,the ants established themselves between the glass panes of his bee-box and the wooden shutters which covered them2 and as a similar circumstance occurred to ,bonnet1 and in other of ,reaumur's hives also1 it seems probable that the ants took up their quarters in this situation for the sake of the equable warmth that the bees would impart to their eggs4 ,ants were without the hive1 says ,reaumur1 and bees within2 a single glass only separating two nations1 so different in manners1 in customs1 and genius4 ,the bees were abundantly provided with a dainty of which ants are exceedingly fond1 ,i mean honey4 ,the ants had just reason to be apprehensive that the bees would be uneasy1 and jealous to preserve so precious a treasure4 ,nevertheless the utmost harmony and concord prevailed between the two nations4 ,not a single ant was tempted to enter the hive1 how strongly soever she might be invited by the fragrance of the honey2 nor did any bee disturb the ants1 though superior to them in power2 the several individuals1 on each side1 went in and out peaceably2 they would meet in the way without teazing or molesting one another3 respect on one side1 and complacency on the other1 were the foundation of this peace4--,nat4 ,history of ,bees1 p4 #ceb4 ,the destruction of queen wasps and queen hornets in the spring1 and of wasps' and hornets' nests in the summer1 will prove the best security against those formidable enemies4 ,none but queen wasps and queen hornets appear in the spring4 ,everyone which is then annihilated would probably have been the founder of a kindred colony1 and every colony of wasps at a moderate computation may be calculated to produce at least #cj1jjj in a season4 ,these destroyers may often be watched to their homes and exterminated in the night1 by brimstone1 gunpowder1 or boiling water4 ,the wooden guards invented by ,espinasse1 or the tin guards of ,huish1 will be very useful in case of a formidable attack1 and had better be made use of if an assault be apprehended from these predatory insects4 ,powder and shot are the only protectors from the visits of birds4 ,the exclusion of poultry must be left to the ingenuity of the apiarian4 ,in an ungenial autumn1 it is not uncommon for bees that are ill-managed and not properly fed1 to plunder the hoards of their own species1 and bees that have thus acquired predatory habits1 become great annoyers of industrious and well-fed colonies2 they are known by the name of corsair bees4 ,on these occasions spies are said to be sent our to ascertain the respective strengths of neighbouring colonies1 and to select the weakest for attack4 ,they make similar attacks upon the nests of humble-bees1 as well as upon the bees themselves2 in the former case they will carry off almost the whole of the stores that have been collected1 unrepulsed by its proprietors2 and in the latter case1 says ,huber1 the humble-bee1 accustomed to such exactions1 yields up its honey1 and resumes its flight4 ,in both cases it renews its labour in the fields1 and repairs with its surplus treasure to its usual asylum1 and that even after repeated robberies4 ,mr4 ,hubbard says that he has known repeated instances of weak stocks being expelled from their hives by strong ones4 ,the best remedies for this evil are the contraction of the entrances1 as for guarding against wasps1 or a change in the situation of the hives4 ,dr4 ,darwin in his ,phytologia has related an instance of a besieged hive being removed to a distant and more easterly part of the same garden3 the assailants in this case did not follow1 and the bees resumed their usual occupations4 ,removal to a still greater distance would seem to promise more certain relief4 ,in order to raise their courage above its natural height when thus attacked1 ,schirach recommends mixing a little wine or brandy with honey1 and presenting it to the bees that are besieged4 ,huber has called the attention of ,naturalists to what he designated as a new enemy of bees1 the ,sphinx ,atropos or ,death's-head ,hawk-moth1 to which his attention seems to have been first directed in #ahjd4 ,this gigantic moth1 which derives its name from having upon its back a mark somewhat resembling a death's head1 has1 from this cause together with its size1 7which at first caused it to be mistaken for a bat17 produced great alarm amongst the people of some countries1 being regarded by them as the harbinger of some calamity4 ,kuhn speaks of its having been noticed in the apiaries of some monks at the close of the last century1 as well as in the bee-houses of other persons3 and ,campbell1 in his ,travels1 mentions it as plundering the wild bees in ,africa of their honey4 ,this moth makes its appearance towards the close of summer3 it has the faculty of emitting a shrill mournful cry1 which1 when threatened by the vengeance of the bees1 has the power of disarming their fury4 ,it operates upon them like the voice of their queen1 and thus enables the moth to commit the greatest ravages in the hives1 with perfect impunity4 ,huber ascertained that it could not produce the same effect upon humble-bees2 for whenever their nests are entered by one of these insects1 it is immediately attacked and driven out4 ,one that ,huber introduced into a nest of humble-bees was actually stung to death by them1 but not till many wounds had been inflicted upon its most sensible part1 the belly4 ,on dissecting one of these moths1 he found a table-spoonful of pure honey in its abdomen4 ,the proceedings of bees1 when attacked by the ,sphinx ,atropos1 as detailed in the ,chapter on ,instincts1 will suggest to the apiarian the best plan to be adopted1 whenever this formidable insect shall invade their territories4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,exotic ,,bees4 ,bees are1 in all probability1 the most universal of all animals2 and notwithstanding their impatience of cold1 they seem adapted to live in all climates4 ,they are accordingly to be met with in every quarter of the globe1 and in every quarter they seem to flourish1 if duly attended to4 ,in all tropical climates there are little black bees without stings4 ,those of ,guadaloupe are only half the size of those in ,europe1 and are rounder in their form4 ,they build in hollow trees1 or in the cavities of rocks by the sea-side1 where they lay up their honey in cells about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg2 these cells are of a black or deep violet colour1 and joined together1 so as to leave no space between them2 they hang in clusters almost like a bunch of grapes2 each cell somewhat resembles a small bottle or bladder2 when filled with honey the cell is closed up4 ,the honey collected by these bees is said not to be so unpalatable nor so surfeiting as that of ,europe4 ,by unpalatable ,i conceive the writers merely to mean1 that it has less of that peculiar flavour which ,european honey possesses4 ,a writer in the #aeth volume of the ,philosophical ,transactions1 states that their honey is always in a fluid state1 and as clear as rock water1 forming an agreeable beverage1 which taken on an empty stomach in the quantity of about half a pint1 acts medicinally in about two hours1 but not so when taken with the meals4 ,there is a species of bees in ,guiana which gather very delicious honey1 and have no stings4 ,these also construct their combs in a different manner from the hive-bee of our hemisphere4 ,according to ,huber's translator1 there are bees in ,india that construct under the boughs of a tree a single comb of very large dimensions4 ,the most interesting account of exotic bees that ,i have met with1 is in ,mr4 ,basil ,hall's highly instructive and entertaining ,journal written on the coasts of ,chili1 ,peru and ,mexico1 in #ahbj1 -#a1 and -#b1 of which ,i shall here give a transcript4 ,from the ,plaza1 we went to a house where a bee-hive of the ,country was opened in our presence4 ,the bees1 the honey-comb1 and the hive1 differ essentially from those in ,england4 ,the hive is generally made out of a log of wood from two to three feet long and eight or ten inches in diameter1 hollowed out1 and closed at the ends by circular doors1 cemented closely to the wood1 but capable of being removed at pleasure4 ,some persons use cylindrical hives1 made of earthenware1 instead of the clumsy apparatus of wood2 these are relieved by raised figures and circular rings1 so as to form rather handsome ornaments in the verandah of a house1 where they are suspended by cords from the roof1 in the same manner that the wooden ones in the village are hung to the eaves of the cottage4 ,on one side of the hive1 half-way between the ends1 there is a small hole made1 just large enough for a loaded bee to enter1 and shaded by a projection to prevent the rain from trickling in4 ,in this hole1 generally representing the mouth of a man1 or some monster1 the head of which is moulded in the clay of the hive1 a bee is constantly stationed1 whose office is no sinecure,j1 for the hole is so small1 he has to draw back every time a bee wishes to enter or to leave the hive4 ,a gentleman told me that the experiment had been made1 by marking the sentinel2 when it was observed that the same bee continued at his post a whole day4 ,footnote ,j3 ,if the ,mexican bees enter the hives with as much rapidity and in as great numbers as ,reaumur states they do in this part of the world1 it would indeed be no sinecure4 ,he observes that the population of a hive amounts to #ah1jjj1 and that a hundred enter in a minute2 if as many go out in the same time1 ,i think the sentinel must rather stand on one side of the entrance than within it4 ,when it is ascertained by the weight that the hive is full1 the end pieces are removed1 and the honey withdrawn4 ,the hive we saw opened was only partly filled1 which enabled us to see the conomy of the interior to more advantage4 ,the honey is not contained in the elegant hexagonal cells of our hives1 but in wax bags1 not quite so large as an egg4 ,these bags or bladders are hung round the sides of the hive1 and appear about half full1 the quantity being probably just as great as the strength of the wax will bear without tearing4 ,those near the bottom being better supported1 are more filled than the upper ones4 ,in the centre of the lower part of the hive1 we observed an irregular-shaped mass of comb furnished with cells1 like those of our bees1 all containing young ones1 in such an advanced state that when we broke the comb and let them out1 they flew merrily away4 ,during this examination of the hive1 the comb and the honey were taken out1 and the bees disturbed in every way2 but they never stung us1 though our faces and hands were covered with them4 ,it is said1 however1 that there is a bee in the country which does sting2 but the kind we saw seem to have neither the power nor the inclination1 for they certainly did not hurt us2 and our friends said they were always 'muy manso1' very tame1 and never stung any one4 ,the honey gave out a rich aromatic perfume1 and tasted differently from ours1 but possessed an agreeable flavour4 ,from the periodicals of the last year1 ,i have observed that there has been an importation of the stingless bees into this country4 ,i doubt the success of their establishment here1 as the fruits of their labours may very soon become the prey of wasps and corsair bees1 and even of the hive-bees which1 in a dearth of honey or when from a paucity of numbers a hive is weakly defended1 will commit depredations upon one another4 ,the stingless bees having no weapon of defence which enables them to cope with armed assailants must soon be exterminated4 ,in their native clime1 where there is an abundance of sweets1 no temptations to predatory attack may occur2 but in our hemisphere1 as ,buffon has observed1 there are hundreds of lazy creatures1 fond of honey and disliking labour1 that would1 but for the weapons of defence possessed by our bees1 invade their hives and carry off the treasures4 ,honey-bees do not appear to have been among the native productions of ,north ,america1 though they have now become general throughout that continent4 ,when established there1 they extended themselves somewhat in advance of the white population2 in consequence of which they were called by the native ,indians1 the white man's flies1 and were regarded as indicating the approach of ,european settlements4--,jefferson's ,virginia4 ,an elegant modern writer has observed upon this subject1 that a few years ago the hum of a bee had never been heard on the western side of ,alleghany ,mountains3 but that a violent hurricane having carried several swarms over that lofty ridge1 they found there a new unexhausted country1 singularly favourable to their propagation1 where they have multiplied1 till the whole of those boundless savannahs and plains have been colonized by these indefatigable emigrants4 ,from what ,i have said above1 it would seem that the bees of all tropical climates store their honey in cells or bags of large dimensions2 but from ,mr4 ,basil ,hall's account it appears that the bees of ,south ,america build small cells also1 resembling those of our hive-bees2 and in all probability this is the case with those of other hot climates1 and that these small cells are merely used as receptacles for the young brood4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,separation ,,of ,,wax ,,and ,,honey4 ,after deprivation1 the box or hive containing the combs should be kept in a warm room1 till it is convenient to drain it of its contents1 as the more fluid the honey1 the sooner and the more completely will it run off2 this is of course a reason for not deferring the draining longer than can be avoided4 ,the combs should be separated from the boxes or hives with the broad spatula and the double-edged instrument recommended in chapter ,,xi4 and placed afterwards on a clean dish4 ,the waxen covers1 on both sides of the scaled combs1 should be sliced off1 when by placing them on a hair sieve the honey will run through tolerably fine1 and may be caught in an earthen pan4 ,for prime purposes the purest combs should be selected1 and their honey passed through a separate sieve4 ,mr4 ,isaac recommends letting this fine honey drop through the sieve into a silk sarse1 such as is used by the apothecary for sifting fine powders1 and from the sarse into an earthen pan2 this would enable the apiarian to obtain his honey in a more depurated state4 ,the sarse must be first wetted1 or the honey will not run through it4 ,if the weather be cool1 this business should be done in a room where there is a fire4 ,the ordinary combs may be chopped up1 or broken down with the hands1 and together with the refuse combs after draining1 may be thrown into as much clear water as will cause the wax to swim3 the whole may remain in this state for some days to dissolve all the honey for making common mead2 or the combs may be spread out upon broad dishes1 and set before the bees in an evening1 as also the utensils which have been employed during the process1 first strewing them over with short straws1 to prevent the bees from smearing their wings4 ,the former is the best mode of disposing of the refuse combs and utensils1 as the latter is apt to produce quarrelling and robberies4 ,the combs having been cleared as completely as possible1 the finest should be boiled in water enough to float them1 till they are thoroughly melted3 the melted mass should be poured into a canvass bag1 made in the form of a jelly bag1 with a draw tape or string at the top1 and then be suspended over a tub or pan of cold water4 ,the strings of the bag being tightly drawn1 the expression may be effected in various ways4 ,some press the bag between two strong round sticks1 tied or strapped together at their ends1 so as to resemble a pair of nut-crackers1 with which two persons may by repeatedly stripping down the sides of the bag1 express the whole of the wax4 ,others express it by making an inclined plane of a board about four feet long1 placing one end of it in the tub or pan of water1 and the other against the breast of the assistant1 who puts the bag on the board and passes a round stick firmly down it1 as long as the wax will run4 ,a screw press1 made hot1 would of course answer the purpose better than either of the above modes4 ,the crumbled combs might be put over the fire1 in a steam kettle1 with water under it1 and the wax which runs through might be afterwards melted again and passed through the bag4 ,the new combs will melt almost entirely2 but the old ones1 owing to their cells having received so many linings1 will preserve their form1 the wax running from them but in small quantities4 ,the vessel used for melting the wax should be capable of containing a good deal more than is put into it1 as the contents may boil up suddenly1 and occasion loss and inconvenience as well as danger4 ,the wax having been separated from the water in which it was melted1 should be remelted with just water enough to prevent burning2 and having been well skimmed1 may be poured into proper moulds for forming cakes1 the vessels being first rinsed with cold water to prevent the wax from adhering to them4 ,the melted wax should be placed near the fire and covered over1 to cool gradually1 or the cakes will be liable to crack4 ,if it be desirable to have the wax in a very pure state1 it may be boiled over and over again with fresh water4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,wax4 ,wax is a solid compact unctuous substance1 generally of a yellow colour4 ,it is secreted by animals and vegetables1 but the vegetable secretion of it is often combined with resin4 ,bees-wax may be said to be a concrete animal oil1 holding the same relation to the fixed oils that resin does to the essential oils4 ,it is secreted by certain small sacklets on the body of the bee1 as occasion requires1 for constructing the combs in which the family provision and the young brood are deposited2 the wax of commerce is procured by melting down these combs1 in the manner already described4 ,prime wax is of a bright yellow colour and an agreeable odour1 somewhat like that of honey4 ,the best is procured from combs which have been either wholly unoccupied1 or occupied by nothing but honey4 ,when first secreted1 it is white1 semitransparent1 and very fragile3 it afterwards becomes stronger1 and assumes more or less of a yellow hue4 ,this deepening of colour is owing1 partly1 to its being covered with a yellowish varnish by the bees1 7for an account of which see ,architecture and ,propolis17 and is partly the effect of age4 ,independently of its colour1 the goodness of wax may also be estimated by the passing of the thumb nail forcibly over its surface3 if good1 the nail will pass with a kind of jerk2 but if no obstruction be felt1 the wax may be looked upon as adulterated with suet1 or some similar substance4 ,the average quantity yielded by a common hive1 is about half a pound of wax to fifteen pounds of honey2 the quantity of both may be considerably increased by storifying4 ,white wax is nothing more than the yellow wax that has been exposed in thin flakes or shreds to the action of the sun and air4 ,there is an apparatus for melting and reducing the wax into shreds or ribbands1 but the process of conversion1 under any circumstances1 is tedious and dependent on the weather4 ,the following1 says ,mr4 ,parkes in his ,chemical ,essays1 is the usual process1 as it is conducted in ,england4 ,common bees-wax is melted upon hot water2 and when in a fluid state1 it is laded out of the copper1 together with a part of the water1 into a wooden vessel2 and in this it is allowed to remain a few hours1 for the impurities to subside from it4 ,the purified wax is then put1 while still hot1 into a cullender full of holes1 through which it runs1 and falls upon a revolving metallic roller1 which dips into cold water contained in a vessel placed underneath4 ,as the melted wax runs through the cullender upon the revolving roller1 the motion of the cylinder forms it into thin shavings1 which cool as they come in contact with the water1 and fall in an accumulated heap into the water below4 ,these shavings of wax1 being now in a suitable form for absorbing oxygen1 are taken out of the tub1 and exposed in a field to the action of the atmosphere1 till they become sufficiently white4 ,bees-wax forms a considerable article of commerce1 and large quantities of it are annually imported into this country from the ,baltic1 the ,levant1 the ,barbary ,coast1 and ,north ,america4 ,in some parts of ,europe and ,america wax is very extensively employed in the religious ceremonies of the inhabitants4 ,humboldt informs us that upwards of #hj1jjj pounds worth is annually imported from ,cuba to ,new ,spain1 and that the total export from that island in #ahjc was worth upwards of #acj1jjjl4 ,by far the greater part of this wax is the produce of the hive-bee1 though no inconsiderable quantity is procured also from various species of wild bees1 as well as from certain trees which ,i shall notice presently4 ,upon this subject a modern writer1 after lamenting the increasing neglect of bee-culture in this country1 has not hesitated to use the following contemptuous1 though somewhat extravagant1 language4 ,there is hardly bees-wax enough produced in ,england to answer the demand for lip-salve alone2 but importation from ,america supplies all our wants1 for the quantity obtained in that country is annually increasing4 ,little thinks the ball-room beauty1 when the tapers are almost burnt out1 that the wax by whose light her charms have been exalted was once hidden in the bells and cups of innumerable flowers1 shedding perfume over the silent valleys of the ,susquehanna1 or nodding at their own reflected colours in the waters of the ,potomac and ,delaware4 ,the uses of wax in making candles1 ointments1 c4 are well known4 ,according to ,buffon1 the bees-wax of tropical climates is too soft for any but medicinal purposes4 ,there is a species of wax1 which is generally regarded as of vegetable origin1 and which is afforded by various trees1 plants and fruits4 ,the light down which silvers over the surface of prunes and other stone fruits1 has been shown by ,m4 ,proust to be wax1 the leaves and stem of the ,ceroxylon also1 afford it in considerable quantity1 if bruised and boiled in water2 but the trees which afford it in greatest abundance1 are the ,myrica cerifera angustifolia or wax-tree of ,louisiana1 and the ,myrica cerifera latifolia of ,pennsylvania1 ,carolina1 and ,virginia4 ,the latter is now naturalized in ,france3 it flourishes also in the dry lands of ,prussia1 and1 from the productiveness of its berries1 it seems surprising that its culture is not more general4 ,the mode in which this myrtle wax is obtained is as follows4 ,towards the end of autumn the natives gather the ripe berries1 boil them in water1 skim off the wax which rises1 strain it off from its impurities1 and set it to drain1 after which1 they remelt and form it into masses4 ,four pounds of berries yield about one pound of wax4 ,from the wax thus procured1 they make soap and candles4 ,the soap manufactured from it is said to be excellent1 and to wash linen perfectly white2 the candles afford a good light1 without smoke or guttering2 their perfume is highly agreeable1 not only during the time that they are burning1 but for a considerable time afterwards4 ,mr4 ,sparrman suspects that myrtle wax is deposited upon the berries by insects1 and ,du ,valde has given an account of a white wax made by small insects1 round the branches of a tree in ,china1 in great quantity1 which is there collected for medical and economical purposes4 7,description of ,china1 vol4 i4 page #bcj47 ,myrtle wax therefore may not be a vegetable product4 ,according to the experiments of ,m4 ,cadet and ,dr4 ,bostock1 this myrtle wax differs in some respects from1 bees-wax4 ,it differs from it in colour1 different specimens of it assuming different shades of yellowish green3 its smell is also different2 myrtle wax1 when fresh1 emitting a fragrant balsamic odour4 ,it has in part the tenacity without the unctuosity of bees-wax1 and somewhat of the brittleness of resin4 ,its specific gravity is greater1 insomuch that it sinks in water1 whereas bees-wax floats upon it2 and it is not so easily bleached to form white wax4 ,analysis of ,wax4 ,carbon #ha1gi ,oxygen #e1ed ,hydrogen #ab1fg ,the formation of resin and wax has been explained thus3--,that when a volatile or a fixed oil is expelled out of plants1 and has its surface exposed to the air1 the first becomes a resin by losing hydrogen1 the second a wax by absorbing oxygen4--,parkes's ,chemical ,catechism1 p4 #bdd1 #aath edit4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,honey4 ,honey is a well known1 sweet1 tenacious1 substance1 which in fine weather is continually secreting in the nectaries of flowers1 chiefly from certain vesicles or glands situated near the basis of every petal1 from whence it is collected by bees and other insects4 ,the domestic honey-bees consume a portion of this honey for food1 at or near the time of gathering2 but the principal part is regurgitated and poured into the cells of the hive1 for the use of the community in winter3--so very abundant are these collections1 in favourable seasons1 as to afford to the apiarian an extensive share of them1 without distressing the provident hoarders4 ,mr4 ,wildman states that in the year #aghi1 he purchased a glass filled with exceedingly fine honey-combs1 weighing #fclbs41 which had been collected within a month1 and that the hive which it had surmounted still contained a full supply for the winter's consumption of the bees4 ,this however was an unusual quantity2 a hive or box1 of the dimensions recommended in this work1 may be considered as well stocked when it yields from #cj to #djlbs4 of honey4 ,the honey intended for early use1 and for the nursing-bees and drones1 is deposited in cells which are allowed to remain open1 and is probably of an inferior sort2 whilst the finest honey1 which is laid up in store for winter1 is placed in the most inaccessible parts of the hive1 and closed in the cells with waxen lids4 ,there cluster'd now clear wells of nectar glow1 ,like amber drops that sparkle in the ,po1 ,and now 7so quick the change7 ere one short moon ,shrinks with waned crescent mid the blaze of noon4 ,all veil'd from view1 these amber drops are lost4 ,and each clear well with waxen crown embost4 ,evans4 ,in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #agib1 ,mr4 ,hunter has stated1 that whatever time the contents of the honey-bags may be retained1 they still remain pure and unaltered by the digestive process4 ,mr4 ,polhill1 a gentleman to whom the public are indebted for several articles in ,rees's ,cyclopdia appertaining to bees1 is also of this opinion4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence do not admit this statement3 as the nectar of flowers is not of so thick a consistence as honey1 they think it must undergo some change in the stomach of the bee4 ,this opinion is strengthened by what has been stated by ,reaumur3 he observed that if there was a deficiency of flowers1 at the season of honey-gathering1 and the bees were furnished with sugar1 they filled their cells with honey1 differing in no other respect from honey collected in the usual way1 but in its possessing a somewhat higher flavour and in its never candying1 nor even losing its fluidity by long keeping4 ,the same may be observed when they imbibe the juices of sweet fruits1 for bees do not confine themselves solely to flowers and honey-dewed leaves2 they will sometimes very greedily absorb the juice of raspberries for instance1 and thus spoil them for the table2 they also visit in crowds the vats of the cider and wine maker4 ,reaumur has likewise remarked1 that in each honey-cell there is a cream-like layer or covering1 of a thicker consistence than the honey itself1 which apparently serves to retain the more liquid collections that may from time to time be introduced under it4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence say1 that if honey were the unaltered nectar of flowers1 it would be difficult to conceive how this cream could be collected in proper proportions4 ,this observation is made1 in consequence of their presuming that some of this cream-like covering is conveyed into the cells with each deposition of fresh honey2 and it has been supposed that this cream was the last portion disgorged4 ,according to an article in ,rees's ,cyclopdia1 probably written by ,mr4 ,polhill1 this cream-like matter is formed at the very first1 and every addition of honey is deposited beneath it4 ,the bee1 entering into the cell as deeply as possible1 puts forward its anterior pair of legs1 and with them pierces a hole through the crust or cream3 while this hole is kept open by the feet1 the bee disgorges the honey in large drops from its mouth2 these1 falling into the hole1 mix with the mass below3 the bee1 before it flies off1 new-models the crust1 and closes up the hole4 ,this mode of proceeding is regularly adopted by every bee that contributes to the general store4 ,the power of regurgitation in the bee is very remarkable3 its alimentary organs1 like those of the pigeon1 besides being subservient to the purpose of nutriment1 afford it a temporary storeroom or reservoir4 ,ruminating animals may be considered as regurgitating animals1 though in them the operation is performed for different purposes4 ,in some it is exercised for the purpose of digesting the food1 in others for feeding the young2 but in bees its use is to enable them to disburden themselves of the honey which they gather for the winter's store of the community4 ,the finest flavoured and most delicate honey is that which is collected from aromatic plants1 and has been stored in clean new cells3 it has been usually called virgin-honey1 as though it were elaborated by a fresh swarm of bees2 but this is not essential to the perfection of honey1 for1 provided the cells in which it is deposited have never contained either brood or farina1 it is not material whether it have been collected by swarms or by old stocks2 the season and the flowers having been the same1 the quality of the honey will in both cases be alike4 ,f4 ,lamberti asserts1 that the best honey in the world is produced in ,pontus1 and that its superiority is attributable to the great quantity of balm growing there4 ,in this quarter of the world1 the ,narbonne honey is regarded as the finest1 owing to the rosemary which abounds in the neighbourhood of ,narbonne4 ,the honey1 for which ,narbonne is so deservedly celebrated1 is every year diminishing4 ,bees have ceased to be an object of attention to the peasantry2 they now devote their time to the vineyards1 and neglect the bees4 ,the flowers of the wild plants1 in the neighbourhood of ,narbonne1 are highly aromatic1 and give the flavour which is peculiar to its honey3 this peculiarity is attributed exclusively to the wild rosemary1 ,rosmarinus officinalis4 7,duppa's ,miscellaneous ,observations and ,opinions on the ,continent4 #ahbe47 ,attempts are said to have been made to imitate ,narbonne honey1 by adding to other honey an infusion of rosemary flowers4 ,of the power which some flowers possess of imparting deleterious qualities to their honey1 ,i have already spoken in the chapter on ,pasturage4 ,i will here add1 however1 what has been said of the appearance of this pernicious kind of honey4 ,it is usually distinguished from what is innocent1 by its crimson or reddish brown colour1 its bitter flavour1 and thicker consistence2 but in ,florida and ,carolina it is so similar1 in all respects1 to innocent honey1 that the hunters depend upon experience only1 and1 knowing that bad honey soon shows its effects1 they at first eat very sparingly4 ,the converse of this would appear in the blood-red honey found by ,mr4 ,bruce at ,dixan in ,abyssinia1 to which he ascribes no evil properties4 7,travels to the ,nile1 vol4 v47 ,linnus informs us1 that in ,sweden1 the honey of autumn is principally gathered from the flowers of the ,erica or ,heath1 and that it has a reddish cast4 ,the honey of our native heaths is also of the same colour4 ,dr4 ,barton has observed that during his residence at ,edinburgh1 the ,highland honey was often of a dirty brownish colour1 which was supposed to be given to it by the blooming hather1 as ,burns calls it3 the people of ,edinburgh1 however1 though great consumers of it1 never complain of any ill effects from it4 ,it produced upon the ,doctor a soporific effect4 ,the most innocent honey will often disagree with those who take it in large quantities1 or who have irritable bowels2 usually1 in such cases1 it produces purging1 and sometimes griping pain4 ,the mischievous qualities of honey have been said to be destroyed by boiling and straining1 or even by long keeping only2 yet when made into metheglin1 it has been found as deleterious as ever4 ,the quality of honey varies with the time of gathering1 and that even though the whole season may have been favourable4 ,the collection at the commencement of summer is regarded as the prime honey of the year1 the flowers being then most abundant1 and in the full glow of health2 and that which is collected in spring is superior to the gleanings of autumn4 ,huber states that the secretion of honey and the formation of wax are singularly promoted by electricity3 hence the works may always be observed to advance rapidly when there is a southerly wind1 a moist warm air1 and an impending storm2 whereas the secretion is impeded1 and sometimes suspended1 by long protracted droughts1 cold rains1 and a northerly wind4 ,prime honey is of a whitish colour1 an agreeable smell1 a pleasant taste1 and a thick consistence4 ,when taken from the combs it is in a fluid state1 but gradually thickens by age1 and in cold weather1 if genuine1 it becomes firm and solid4 ,in ,england1 it has seldom1 if ever1 been known to assume this solid state while in the hives2 and even out of them1 if it remain in the combs1 it will preserve its clearness1 purity and fine flavour1 for at least a year4 ,the honey of tropical climates is always in a fluid state4 ,vide chapter on ,exotic ,bees4 ,much of the fine flavour of honey will depend upon the manner of its separation from the comb4 ,that will be the most delicate which flows spontaneously from the purest and whitest combs2 the next in excellence will be that which is expressed without heat2 and the coarsest1 that which is obtained by the aid of heat and pressure4 ,care should be taken in the selection of the vessels used for storing honey2 the most appropriate are jars of stone ware1 called ,bristol ware4 ,the principal constituents of sugar and honey are the same2 viz4 hydrogen1 carbon1 and oxygen4 ,besides these their common elements1 honey contains mucilage and extractive matter1 and also an excess of oxygen3 in plain ,english1 honey possesses a greater proportion of acid than is contained in sugar1 and in a state more capable of acting upon those bodies with which it comes in contact4 ,from this the reader will perceive my reason for recommending stone jars for its preservation3 the acid of the honey acting upon the lead with which every other kind of earthenware is glazed1 causes the honey to receive an impregnation from it1 which may prove injurious to those whose constitutions are delicate3 the stone ware1 being glazed with common salt1 cannot communicate any injurious property to the honey which is stored in it4 ,honey should be kept in a cool and dry situation1 as warmth promotes fermentation and generates a sensible acidity4 ,the circumstance of honey1 when separated from the combs and put into jars1 being disposed to ferment in a temperature much below the usual heat of a hive1 is calculated to excite our admiration of the instinctive intelligence of the bee1 which leads it to distribute its treasure in small cells and to seal them closely over1 whereby the honey can be preserved from fermentation for a long period1 even in a high temperature4 ,proust says that granulated honey is capable of being separated into two parts1 one of which is liquid1 the other dry and not deliquescent1 crystallizable in its manner and less saccharine than sugar4 ,the ,jews of ,moldavia and the ,ukraine prepare from honey a sort of sugar which is solid and as white as snow1 which they send to the distilleries at ,dantzic4 ,they expose the honey to frost for three weeks1 in some place where neither sun nor snow can reach it1 and in a vessel which is a bad conductor of caloric1 by which process the honey1 without being congealed1 becomes clear and hard like sugar4 ,prior to the discovery of sugar1 honey must have been an article of great utility2 and notwithstanding that discovery1 if we may judge from the quantity imported into this country1 and the price at which it sells when of fine quality1 it may still be regarded as a commodity of great importance1 and worthy of more attention from our rural population than it in general obtains4 ,in the ,ukraine1 some of the peasants have four or five hundred hives each1 and find their bees more profitable than their corn4 ,this is a number however which ,i should think would overstock most districts1 and which could only be supported naturally by having recourse to transportation4 ,this seems to be evinced by the inhabitants of ,egypt1 ,france1 ,savoy1 ,piedmont and other places availing themselves of that practice1 as already stated4 ,the most productive parts of this kingdom1 in all probability1 are the borders of ,cambridgeshire1 ,hertfordshire1 and part of ,hampshire1 which abounding in heaths1 commons and woods1 afford so much pabulum for bees1 as to enable some of the farmers to have from #ajj to #aej stocks of them1 the largest number that ,i have ever heard of in this kingdom4 ,on the subject of overstocking1 ,mr4 ,espinasse says that few parts of ,england which he has visited afford flowers in sufficient profusion and of sufficient variety to support numerous colonies4 ,in the village1 says he1 where my house is situated1 many persons1 induced by my example1 procured bees2 they were too numerous for what was to feed them2 more than one half of them died in the ensuing winter1 and nearly one-third of my own were with difficulty saved by feeding4 ,the proprietor of bees may know whether or not his situation is overstocked1 if he will attend to the produce of his apiary for several years together4 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,mead4 ,prior to the introduction of agriculture into ,britain1 mead was the principal cordial beverage of its inhabitants4 ,in other northern nations also it was formerly in high estimation4 ,this must have proceeded1 either from their unpampered simplicity of taste1 or from their having a better method of making their mead than has been handed down to posterity2 for certainly in the present day it is a liquor seldom heard of1 and still seldomer made2 and when made1 holding a very humble rank among our imperfect vinous productions4 ,it however continued in favour long after the introduction of malt liquor1 and the northern inhabitants of ,europe drank it generally until very modern times4 ,to show how highly it was formerly esteemed in this country1 ,i will give an extract from an ancient law of the principality of ,wales1 where the praises of it1 accompanied by the lyre1 resounded through the spacious halls of her princes4 ,there are three things in ,court which must be communicated to the king1 before they are made known to any other person4 #ast1 ,every sentence of the judge2 #bnd1 ,every new song2 and #crd1 ,every cask of ,mead4 ,mead-making appears to have been regarded by our forefathers as a high and important avocation2 at the courts of the ,princes of ,wales1 the mead-maker was the eleventh person in dignity1 and took place of the physician4 ,we read in the ,english ,history1 that ,ethelstan a subordinate king of ,kent1 in the tenth century1 on paying a visit to his relation ,ethelfleda felt very much delighted that there was no deficiency of mead4 ,according to the custom at royal feasts1 it was served up in cut horns and other vessels of various sizes4 ,about the same period1 it was customary to allow the monks a sextareum 7about a pint7 of mead between six of them at dinner1 and half the quantity at supper4 ,it was probably the liquor called by ,ossian1 the joy and strength of shells1 with which his heroes were so much delighted2 the ,caledonian drinking-vessels having consisted of large shells1 which are still used by their posterity in some parts of the ,highlands4 ,mention is sometimes made also of the ,feast of ,shells4 ,mead was the ideal nectar of the ,scandinavian nations1 which they expected to quaff in heaven out of the skulls of their enemies2 and1 as may reasonably be supposed1 the liquor which they exalted thus highly in their imaginary celestial banquets1 was not forgotten at those which they really indulged in upon earth4 ,hence may be inferred the great attention which must have been paid to the culture of the bee in those days1 or there could not have been an adequate supply of honey for the production of mead1 to satisfy the demand of such thirsty tribes4 ,the mythology of ,scandinavia 7the religion of our ,gothic ancestors7 was imparted by ,sigge or ,odin1 a chieftain who migrated from ,scythia with the whole of his tribe1 and subdued either by arms or arts the northern parts of ,europe4 ,from him descended ,alaric and ,attila4 ,in the singular paradise which ,odin sketched for his followers1 the principal pleasure was to be derived from war and carnage2 after the daily enjoyment of which1 they were to sit down to a feast of boar's flesh and mead4 ,the mead was to be handed to them in the skulls of their enemies1 by virgins somewhat resembling the houri of the ,mahometan paradise1 and plentiful draughts were to be taken1 until intoxication should crown their felicity4 ,hence the poet ,penrose thus commences his ,carousal of ,odin4 ,fill the honey'd bev'rage high1 ,fill the skulls1 'tis ,odin's cry6 ,heard ye not the powerful call1 ,thundering through the vaulted hall8 ,fill the meath and spread the board1 ,vassals of the grisly lord6-- ,the feast begins1 the skull goes round ,laughter shouts--the shouts resound6 ,hence likewise1 in an ode by ,mr4 ,stirling1 we find the following illustration of the northern ,elysium4 ,their banquet is the mighty chine ,exhaustless1 the stupendous boar2 ,virgins of immortal line ,present the goblet foaming o'er3 ,of heroes' skulls the goblet made1 ,with figur'd deaths and snakes of gold inlaid4 ,boar's flesh was considered by these tribes as the highest delicacy2 the celestial boar was supposed to be daily renewed1 and to afford an ample repast for the most numerous party3 a quantity of mead also1 sufficient for the intoxication of this paradisiacal community1 was imagined to be daily supplied by a goat called ,heidruna1 ,whose spacious horn would fill the bowl ,that rais'd to rapture ,odin's soul2 ,and ever drinking1 ever dry-- ,still the copious stream supply4 ,cottle ,i could not refrain from adducing these short historical and poetical evidences of the high estimation in which mead was held by our northern ancestors4 ,i trust that ,i shall also stand excused for still further lengthening my preamble by entering upon the general principles of wine-making4 ,the grand desiderata in wine are strength1 flavour1 and pleasantness3--to accomplish the first1 sugar must be converted by fermentation into alcohol2 the second depends upon the article to be vinified1 and upon the management of the process of vinification2 flavour may likewise be produced artificially by different adjuncts3 pleasantness will principally result from the same causes1 but more especially from the liquor holding in solution a certain quantity of unconverted sugar4 ,the elements necessary to a due fermentation and to bring the process to a satisfactory issue1 are sugar1 extractive matter1 acid of tartar1 and water4 ,these exist in the highest perfection and in the best relative proportions in the grape3 hence the superiority of foreign wines4 ,whoever therefore expects to imitate1 with much effect1 those generous liquors1 must supply in the process those ingredients in which the article sought to be converted into wine is deficient4 ,if the native juices of fruits be deficient in sugar1 it will be impossible to convert them into a strong wine without a proper supply of that ingredient2 and without a sufficiency of extractive matter1 which is the natural ferment1 a due fermentation could not be established2 the wine would be sweet1 but not potent2 sweet wines being the produce of an incomplete fermentation4 ,if the extractive matter were in excess1 the liquor would have a tendency to the acetous fermentation1 which might also be induced by a superabundant proportion of water4 ,the result of a complete fermentation is a dry wine2 to produce which1 the elements must all be nicely balanced1 and the process conducted under favourable circumstances1 with respect to temperature1 tunning1 stopping down1 c4 ,two opposite practices prevail1 in the manufacture of the same sort of wine2 some wine-makers boiling the juices before fermentation1 others conducting the whole process without boiling3 the propriety or impropriety of these practices depends upon the quality of the juices to be vinified4 ,extractive matter is partially coagulable by heat2 boiling therefore1 by causing this matter to separate and to be deposited1 tends to the production of a sweet wine4 ,the extractive matter may also be precipitated by sulphuric acid gas1 7burning in the cask a brimstone match as hereafter directed17 or by sulphuric acid itself1 with which the soluble leaven forms an insoluble compound4 ,hence where the extractive matter is in excess1 and where there is danger of fermentation going on too rapidly1 boiling or sulphuring will be useful both to the wine and cider-maker1 in checking or preventing fermentation4 ,the superfluous extract thrown up in the course of fermentation as yeast1 or deposited as lees1 will1 if remixed with the liquor1 have the effect of continuing the fermentation3 hence the utility of racking and fining1 where it is in excess2 and of re-union1 where it is deficient4 ,artificial leaven or yeast1 which contains the extractive principle in great abundance1 affords a supply to those juices which are deficient in it1 and without which they will not ferment4 ,natural leaven 7i4 e4 extractive matter7 is soluble in cold water1 artificial leaven is not3 during fermentation1 therefore1 the latter is always thrown off2 so also is the greater part of the former1 if the process be well conducted4 ,most of the fruits of this country abound in malic acid2 those that possess only a moderate quantity of it1 however1 afford excellent wine with the addition of sugar only2 still better wine may be obtained by the further addition of the acid of tartar4 ,where the malic acid prevails so abundantly as to make its neutralization desirable4 ,dr4 ,mc,culloch1 7to whom ,i am indebted for much of the information contained in this chapter17 recommends the coating of the insides of the fermenting vats with a white wash of hot caustic lime4 ,i have neutralized the malic acid1 by putting into the cask1 after the sensible fermentation has been completed1 about a pound of egg shells to every sixty gallons of wine4 ,the acid of tartar increases the fermenting power of fluids3 half-ripe fruits possess it in greatest abundance2 hence the vivacity of champagne and green gooseberry wine4 ,it is most conveniently used in the state of supertartrate of potash or common cream of tartar3 the common rough tartar is in some respects preferable1 as its admixture of yeast assists in perfecting the fermentation4 ,all vegetables contain more or less of extractive matter2 those that possess little may be assisted in their fermentation1 by that process being conducted in wooden vessels1 wood supplying the extractive principle to the liquor2 the same juices therefore which would ferment very well in wood1 would scarcely ferment at all in glass or earthenware4 ,the extractive matter and the sugar are seldom completely destroyed in any wines2 the existence of the former is evinced1 by the skinny matter frequently deposited upon the insides of the wine-bottles2 the latter may be detected1 by a nice palate1 in the very driest of our wines2 its predominance indicates an inferior wine4 ,from the preceding observations1 my readers have probably anticipated my opinion of honey1 in wine-making4 ,i regard it merely as a substitute for sugar2 and to those who approve of its flavour ,i recommend the following directions1 which ,i have successfully followed for several years1 having my home-made wines enriched with a considerable portion of foreign flavour4--,dissolve an ounce of cream of tartar in five gallons of boiling water2 pour the solution off clear upon twenty pounds of fine honey1 boil them together and remove the scum as it rises4 ,towards the end of the boiling1 add an ounce of fine hops2 about ten minutes afterwards1 put the liquor into a tub to cool2 when reduced to the temperature of about #fj ,fahrenheit1 add a slice of bread toasted and smeared over with a very little yeast2 the smaller the quantity the better1 for yeast invariably spoils the flavour of wines1 and where there is a sufficiency of extractive matter in the ingredients employed1 it should never be introduced4 ,the liquor should now stand1 and be stirred occasionally1 till it carries a head1 when it should be tunned and the cask filled up from time to time from the reserve1 till the fermentation has nearly subsided4 ,it should now be bunged down1 leaving open a small peg-hole2 in a few days this may also be closed1 and in about twelve months the wine will be fit to bottle4 ,many makers of both wine and cider have been unconsciously benefited from the acquisition of tartar by their liquor2 it being a frequent practice to tun into an empty foreign wine cask1 whose incrusted sides have supplied their wine or their cider with a portion of that necessary ingredient for perfect vinification4 ,it is a practice with some to add spices to their ,mead during the fermentation1 such as ginger1 cloves1 mace1 rosemary1 lemon-peel1 c4 ,this is bad conomy2 a much smaller quantity will communicate the required flavour if the addition be made after the fermentation has ceased4 ,a common beverage is sometimes made1 by simply boiling the refuse honey-combs in water after extracting from them as much of the honey as will run2 this liquor will not require tartar or yeast3 it should be tunned as soon as cool1 bunged down in three or four days1 and drank in a few weeks4 ,in some parts of ,wales the refuse combs are brewed with malt1 spices1 c4 and the produce is called ,braggot1 a name derived from the old ,british words brag and gots1 the former signifying malt1 the latter honey-comb4 ,a knowledge of the principles of fermentation will enable the wine-maker to regulate its process4 ,thus if a dry wine be desired1 and fermentation be suspended1 it may be renewed by a restoration of the separated leaven or the addition of fresh2 or by agitation and a remixture of the lees4 ,it is upon the latter principle1 called feeding on the lees1 that some foreign wines are improved by long voyages2 but this treatment1 so serviceable to ,madeira and other ,spanish wines1 and also to some of the ,french wines1 would destroy ,burgundy4 ,if there be an excess of fermentation the scientific operator will regulate1 check or suspend it1 by skimming1 racking1 fining4 ,if skimming and racking do not succeed1 recourse must be had to fining1 which may be effected by isinglass1 in the proportion of about an ounce to #ajj gallons4 ,the isinglass must be beaten1 for a few days1 with a whisk in a small quantity of the wine1 till completely attenuated4 ,this solution must then be well stirred into the cask of wine1 which in about a week will become fine and fit for being racked off4 ,this fining is accomplished by the union of the isinglass with what is called the tannin of the wine4 ,fining may also be effected by stumming1 i4 e4 by burning in a close vessel containing a small part of the wine a brimstone rag1 at the rate of a dram of sulphur to thirty gallons2 and when consumed1 rolling the cask about for a quarter of an hour1 that the wine may absorb as much as possible of the sulphuric acid gas4 ,this being done1 the cask is to be filled up with the remainder of the wine1 and bunged down4 ,in this process the sulphuric acid or its oxygen unites with the extractive matter or soluble leaven1 which being thereby rendered insoluble is precipitated to the bottom1 as ,i before observed4 ,if wines be perfectly fermented1 they do not require the addition of any brandy1 as a sufficiency of spirit is generated during the process4 ,the best temperature for carrying on fermentation is about #ed ,fahrenheit4 ,its perfection depends in some degree upon the volume of the liquor2 the larger the quantity1 the longer the fermentation will continue1 and the stronger and pleasanter will be the wine4 ,there are however exceptions to this rule4 ,the peculiar excellence of champagne would be destroyed1 if its fermentation were conducted upon a large scale3 it may be made successfully in a gallon measure4 ,this wine is so managed by the makers as to ferment after bottling4 ,dry wines and fine wines are much more durable than any others2 and those that would perish in cask1 may be preserved many years by bottling4 ,these hints will1 ,i hope1 enable the makers of home-made wines to conduct the process scientifically1 and to secure generally a successful issue4 ,cookery books and good housewives abound in receipts for wine-making1 which are very often fanciful and absurd1 recommending the introduction of articles which1 in their very natures1 counteract the production of good wine4 ,hence we are sometimes presented with such miserable mawkish stuff1 as disgraces the name of wine1 being only rendered tolerable by the brandy which has been added to it1 and which in some degree covers the crudeness and insipidity of the compound1 and moderates its hostility to the peace of our stomachs4 ,,the ,,anatomy ,,and ,,physiology ,,of ,,the ,,bee4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,anatomy4 ,having given in detail the instructions necessary for the domestic management of the ,bee1 and treated of such parts of its physiology as that detail naturally suggested2 ,i shall now proceed to give an account of the most important parts of its anatomical structure1 and so much more of its physiology as may arise from a consideration of that structure1 or be otherwise likely to interest my readers4 ,some persons may possibly consider a description of the anatomy of so small a creature as unimportant and uninteresting2 but without understanding the anatomy of the bee1 its physiology would be vague1 uncertain1 and conjectural2 and it is physiological knowledge that has hitherto led1 and must still lead1 to a scientific and profitable management of this insect4 ,the enlightened ,boyle1 when contemplating the various wonders of ,nature1 has declared his astonishment to have been more excited by the mite than by the elephant2 and that his admiration dwelt1 not so much on the clocks as on the watches of creation4 ,it is not my intention1 however1 to enter deeply into the anatomy of the bee1 but merely to give a general account of those parts which are most prominent and important2 anything beyond this would1 to the general reader1 be tedious and uninteresting4 ,those who desire minute information may obtain it in various works1 but in none more satisfactorily than in that of ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence4 ,the natural ,the ,head4 divisions of are ,the ,trunk4 the ,bee ,the ,abdomen4 ,these are connected together by ligaments4 ,the ,head1 in common with that of other creatures1 is the inlet for nutrition and the principal seat of the organs of sensation4--,of nutrition and sensation ,i shall speak in their appropriate places4 ,the ,trunk is the intermediate section of the body between the head and the abdomen3 it approaches in figure to a sphere1 and is the seat of the organs of motion2 it contains the muscles of the wings and legs which proceed from it1 and is the main prop1 or as it were the key-stone1 of the other two sections4 ,the upper side is called thorax or the chest1 the under side pectus or the breast4 ,the ,abdomen is the third section of the body1 posterior to the trunk2 it is divided into six rings or segments1 which1 by sliding one over another1 serve to shorten or lengthen the body4 ,it is the seat of the organs of generation1 and principally of those connected with respiration2 and contains also the anus and the sting4 ,the upper part is called tergum or the back1 the under side venter or the belly4 ,the ,head4 ,the most remarkable part of the head is the ,proboscis1 of which so good an account has been given by ,dr4 ,evans that ,i shall describe it nearly in his words4 ,it is not so much the mere simplicity of nature1 which excites our wonder and admiration1 as that apparently complex structure1 which operates with all the ease of the simplest machinery4 ,of this we have not a more striking instance than in the proboscis of the labouring bee3 though the component parts of the proboscis are scarcely discernible by the naked eye1 yet are they far more complicated than the elephant's stupendous trunk4 ,it consists of no less than five distinct branches2 namely1 a central trunk1 or tongue1 and four horny scales1 tapering to a point1 convex outwards and concave towards the trunk2 the two outer ones so sheath the inner as to appear but one single tube3 by a joint in the middle they bend1 or extend all at once1 carrying with them the unarticulated tongue1 which is cylindrical1 and about the size of a man's hair1 and appears through a magnifier to be composed of successive rings4 ,it has probably as many short muscles as the tongue of a fish1 which are capable of moving it in all directions2 and towards its termination is furnished with hairs or villi1 some of which at the point are very long1 and seem to act like capillary tubes4 ,mr4 ,wildman assures us1 that he has seen the trunk growing bigger and less by turns1 swelling the instant the bee sucked2 and this alternate lessening and enlargement propagated from the extremity to the root4 ,what a delicate apparatus of invisible muscles must perform this office6 ,the tongue is capable of being contracted and folded up at pleasure2 for if it were constantly extended1 it would be exposed to injury3 when at rest1 therefore1 it is doubled up by means of its joint1 and lies in a very small compass2 the first portion being brought within the lip1 and the second part folded under the head and neck1 protection is given to it by a double sheath1 consisting of four strong scales1 the two inner scales sheathing the tongue1 and the two outer and larger ones encompassing the whole4 ,when at work1 the trunk is lengthened beyond its sheaths1 probes the very bottom of the flowers1 through all impediments of foliage or fructification1 and drains them of those treasured sweets which1 without such an apparatus1 would be completely inaccessible4 ,the proboscis of the bee is not used like that of other flies1 not being tubular like theirs1 but serves as a brush or besom to sweep1 or as a tongue to lap,k2 having collected the nectar of flowers in small drops1 it deposits its collection upon the tongue1 which is protruded for the purpose of receiving it1 and having received it1 withdrawn again4 ,footnote ,k3 ,the bee and all other insects that lap their food are called lambent insects4 ,the ,lips4 ,the bee has two lips1 an upper one called labrum1 and an under one called labium2 7the ,mentum of ,latreille47 ,the ,tongue of the bee1 which is very long1 is at its upper part cartilaginous2 below the middle1 membranous and capable of considerable inflation1 thus forming a bag to receive the honey from the proboscis1 preparatory to its conveyance into the pharynx4 ,it terminates in a knob1 but has no passage through it1 to exercise the power of suction1 as has been supposed4 ,when in a state of inaction1 it is folded up longitudinally1 and lies between the lips4 ,the tongue of the working bee is probably the largest of any known animal1 for its size2 it is much longer than that of either the male or queen1 and thus fitted for taking up honey at a considerable depth4 ,the bee has the power of unfolding it with great rapidity1 and darting it betwixt the petals and stamina of those flowers that afford honey1 it moves it about in every direction1 sweeping the convex as well as the concave surface of the petals4 ,the ,pharynx lies at the root of the tongue2 it is an opening by which the honey passes from the tongue to the gullet or honey-bag1 and closes by a valve4 ,the sophagus or ,gullet receives the food from the pharynx1 and conveys it1 in part at least1 to the stomach1 there to be digested1 animalized1 and forwarded to the small intestines1 from whence it is distributed1 through appropriate vessels or tubes1 to all parts of the body for its nutriment4 ,the gullet is long and slender1 commences at the termination of the pharynx1 and traversing the neck and breast1 dilates into a fine bag1 transparent as crystal1 and when filled with honey about the size of a small pea4 ,in bees caught on going out early in the morning1 ,mr4 ,hunter found this reservoir perfectly empty2 but in those returning from the fields1 it was quite full of honey1 some of which had passed into the stomach4 ,the ,mandibles or upper jaws move horizontally1 and are armed with teeth4 ,the ,maxill or under jaws are situated below the mandibles1 have a similar motion1 and form1 according to ,linnus1 the sheath of the tongue4 ,de ,geer regarded them as part of the apparatus of the under lip1 on each side of which they are placed4 ,the mandibles are powerful organs1 hard and horny1 and constitute the tools with which the bee performs its various labours2 the maxill on the contrary are soft and leathery3 the latter probably serve to hold such materials as the former have occasion to operate upon4 ,the ,antenn4 ,of all the organs of insects1 none appear to be of more importance than their antenn3 in all the tribe they are planted either between or below the eyes2 and no insect has more than two3 in their general structure1 they consist of a number of tubular joints1 each having a separate motion1 which gives them every variety of flexure4 ,the antenn of the male have one more joint than those of the female1 the former having thirteen1 the latter only twelve4 ,they seem to enable the insects1 by certain signs and gestures1 to communicate to each other their mutual wants or discoveries4 ,but ,i shall enter more fully into this subject when ,i come to speak of the various uses to which the antenn are applied4 ,the ,palpi or ,feelers are also important organs2 their ends are furnished with nervous papill1 indicating some peculiar sense1 of which they are the instrument3 they are four in number1 two emerging from the maxill called maxillary feelers1 and one from each side of the labium1 called labial feelers4 ,the maxillary are short and without a joint1 the labial long and with four joints1 including the two flat joints or elevators4 ,the ,eyes1 two in number1 are placed in the sides of the head2 they are compounds of an infinite number of hexagonal lenses1 as clear as crystal1 and are guarded by a horny tunicle or covering4 ,this subject is however treated of in ,chap4 ,,xxxii4 ,the ,trunk4 ,the trunk affords attachment to the organs of motion4 ,first1 ,to the ,wings1 which transport the insect through the air2 these consist of two superior and two inferior3 they are membranous and transparent1 and while in a state of repose are incumbent on each other1 covering the abdomen4 ,bees and various other hymenopterous insects1 and also those of the dipterous family1 possess the power of flying in a more perfect degree than any class of animals besides1 surpassing in this respect even the bird tribe4 ,in the anterior margin of the under wings small hooks 7hamuli7 are placed1 which are capable of laying hold of the posterior margin of the upper wings1 by means of which they are kept steady when flying4 ,these hooks are discoverable under a good magnifier4 ,secondly1 ,to the ,legs1 by which the insect moves itself from place to place upon the earth4 ,of these there are six in number1 each composed of several joints1 and articulated like our arms1 thus affording the power of various movements3 in the legs are three distinct divisions2 namely1 the thigh1 the shank1 and the foot4 ,in the four hinder legs one joint forms a kind of brush1 externally smooth and bare1 but covered on the inside with stiff bristling hairs4 ,by these the insect is enabled to brush off farina both from the tips of the stamina of flowers and from the hairs of its own body4 ,with the jaws and two fore-feet1 the meal is rolled into small compact masses1 which are conveyed1 by the middle pair of legs1 to the spoon-shaped cavities in the centre joint of the two hindmost feet2 these are surrounded by strong close set hairs1 to secure more firmly the precious burdens4 7,no such groove is to be found in the legs of either the queen-bee or drone47 ,each foot terminates in two hooks1 with their points opposite to each other1 by means of which the bees suspend themselves from the roofs or sides of the hives or boxes1 and hang from each other1 in the form of festoons1 ropes1 or cones4 ,from the middle of each pair of hooks proceeds a little thin appendix1 which is usually folded up2 when unfolded it enables the insects to fasten themselves to polished surfaces1 such as glass1 c43 they probably also use it for taking up small bodies1 the pollen for instance1 which they thereby transmit to the hollows of their hinder legs4 ,the trunk also gives origin to a number of muscles1 serving various purposes1 which it would lead me too much into detail to enter upon here4 ,the ,abdomen4 ,the abdomen1 besides various other parts1 contains the honey-bag1 the venom-bag1 and the anus1 which latter in the female comprehends the ovipositor and sting3 in the male it contains the organs of reproduction but no sting1 and of course no ovipositor4 ,for a particular account of these1 vide ,organs of ,reproduction further on4 ,organs of ,sensation4 ,we have an abundance of presumptive evidence that bees are endowed with sensation and perception1 and that the excitement of these faculties is communicated1 through the medium of nerves1 to a common sensorium1 though the latter was denied to insects by ,linnus and other eminent naturalists4 ,common sensation1 however1 does not reside in the brain alone of insects1 as in that of warm-blooded animals1 but in the spinal marrow also2 hence it is that bees and many other insects exhibit signs of sensation after their heads have been severed from their bodies4 ,some insects exhibit these for a long time afterwards1 the wasp for instance2 ,lyonnet informs us that he has seen motion in the body of a wasp1 three days after its division from the head2 and ,i have known several instances of its inflicting wounds with its sting1 at least four-and-twenty hours after the separation4 ,the severed body will not only move but walk1 and sometimes even fly1 at first almost as actively without the head as with it4 ,the penetrating genius of ,lord ,bacon afforded him such illumination upon this subject1 as to enable him to approach very near to what is at this day regarded as a correct statement of the cause of this protracted vitality in mutilated insects4 ,they stirre1 says he1 a good while after their heads are off1 or that they be cut in pieces2 which is caused also for that their vital spirits are more diffused throughout all their parts1 and lesse confined to organs than in perfect creatures4 ,that insects have a real sensorium or brain1 would seem to be proved by their having memory1 and a capacity to receive instruction1 and acquire new habits4 ,such functions in higher animals are regarded as functions of a cerebral system4 ,that they are endowed with memory cannot well be doubted4 ,huber relates a remarkable instance of it in bees1 which illustrates what will hereafter be said on their having a method of communicating information to each other4 ,honey1 says he1 had been placed in a window in autumn1 where the bees resorted to it in multitudes4 ,it was removed1 and the shutters closed during winter2 but when opened again1 on the return of spring1 the bees came back1 though no honey was there4 ,undoubtedly they remembered it1 therefore an interval of several weeks did not obliterate the impression they had received4 ,but the most striking fact evincing the memory of bees has been communicated to me1 says ,mr4 ,kirby1 by my intelligent friend ,mr4 ,w4 ,stickney1 of ,ridgemont1 ,holderness4 ,about twenty years ago1 a swarm from one of this gentleman's hives took possession of an opening beneath the tiles of his house1 whence1 after remaining a few hours1 they were dislodged and hived4 ,for many subsequent years1 when the hives descended from this stock were about to swarm1 a considerable party of scouts were observed1 for a few days before1 to be reconnoitring about the old hole under the tiles2 and ,mr4 ,stickney is persuaded1 that if suffered1 they would have established themselves there4 ,he is certain that for eight years successively the descendants of the very stock that first took possession of the hole1 frequented it as above stated1 and not those of any other swarms2 having constantly noticed them1 and ascertained that they were bees from the original hive by powdering them1 while about the tiles1 with yellow ochre1 and watching their return4 ,and even at the present time1 there are still seen every swarming season about the tiles1 bees1 which ,mr4 ,stickney has no doubt are descendants from the original stock4 ,some anecdotes of the spider prove that insects are capable of instruction4 ,m4 ,pelisson1 when he was confined in the ,bastille1 tamed a spider1 and taught it to come for food at the sound of an instrument4 ,a manufacturer also1 in an apartment at ,paris1 fed #hjj spiders1 which became so tame1 that whenever he entered it1 which he usually did with a dish of flies1 they immediately came down to receive their food4 ,that insects are susceptible of a change of habits1 or rather that they may acquire civilized habits1 if ,i may say so1 is shown by the domestication of bees1 and occasionally by that of ants and wasps4 ,huber's experiments1 with leaf-hives1 show the existence of this faculty in an eminent degree1 for he assures us that it renders the bees quite tame and tractable4 ,most physiologists1 resting upon the evidence of analogy1 agree in attributing five senses to insects3 7,dr4 ,virey1 as will be seen further on1 ascribes to them seven senses37 though there is a difference of opinion as to the organs by which those senses are conveyed4 ,the antenn for instance1 have been regarded by some as the organs of smell1 by others as the organs of touch1 and by a third class as the organs of hearing4 ,with the substitution of taste forbearing1 the same opinions have been maintained respecting the palpi2 nor can the question even now be considered as settled4 ,the prevailing opinion seems to be1 that the antenn are explorers or tactors1 but that they are also applied to other uses2 the effects produced by their excision indicate that they are organs of the highest importance4 ,vide ,senses of ,bees4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence notice the analogy borne by antenn to the ears of vertebrate animals1 such as their corresponding in number and standing out from the head4 ,no ether organ has been found which can be supposed to represent the ear,l4 ,and what ,i have said in another place1 of their constituting a sixth sense1 has received some countenance from the observations of those naturalists4 ,i conceive1 says ,mr4 ,k41 that the antenn1 by a peculiar structure1 may collect notices from the atmosphere1 receive pulses or vibrations1 and communicate them to the sensorium1 which1 communications though not precisely to be called hearing1 may answer the same purpose4 ,lehmann calls the function of the antenn aroscepsy4 ,a very remarkable instance of the effect produced upon them by sound1 is adduced by the authors just quoted1 which one of them has thus related4 ,a little moth was reposing upon my window2 ,i made a quiet1 not loud1 but distinct noise3 the nearest antenna immediately moved towards me4 ,i repeated the noise at least a dozen times1 and it was followed every time by the same motion of that organ2 till at length the insect1 being alarmed1 became agitated and violent in its motions4 ,in this instance1 it could not be touch2 since the antenna was not applied to a surface1 but directed towards the quarter from which the sound came1 as if to listen4 ,footnote ,l3 ,marcel de ,serres thinks he has discovered an organ of hearing in most insects1 but does not state its situation4 ,that the antenn should have been regarded as organs of smell is not surprising when the proceedings of the bees on visiting flowers are considered2 their first act is to introduce one of the antenn1 but no further than the tip3 this conduct would naturally enough convey the idea of looking or smelling for nectar2 yet it does not at all militate against the opinion that the antenn are transmitters of sound2 the sense which they supply may1 in these little creatures1 be so very fine1 as to enable them to hear the bursting of an anther1 or the exudation of nectar4 ,the continual motion of the antenn of insects from side to side1 when they walk1 conveys the idea that it is by their means that they inform themselves of what is going on in their immediate vicinity4 ,the importance of the antenn may be inferred from their very complicated structure4 ,mr4 ,kirby has observed1 that in one species of ,apis which he examined1 under a powerful magnifier1 the ten last joints of the antenn appeared to be composed of innumerable hexagons1 and from this similarity in their structure to the eyes 7,vide ,senses of ,bees7 he thought that they might serve a somewhat analogous purpose4 ,what ,i have said with respect to the ,senses of ,bees1 in another place1 will ,i think make it evident that these insects possess an organ of smell1 but with respect to its situation naturalists differ4 ,baster1 ,lehmann1 and ,cuvier1 consider the spiracles as the organs of smell1 as well as of respiration3 this opinion is founded upon the notion that1 without the inspiration of air1 there can be no smell2 and that as insects are smaller than the food they live upon1 it would be of no consequence to them where this sense was situated4 ,kirby and ,spence1 on the contrary1 suppose that it resides in some organ near the mouth3 in other parts of the animal creation certainly1 that is its situation2 and as there seems to be a necessary connection between smell and taste1 analogy should lead us to argue in favour of that opinion2 but though smell be usually accompanied by respiratory organs1 they may not be essentially necessary to it2 a bee may receive impressions from external objects1 in a manner which we cannot comprehend4 ,in confirmation of this opinion of ,kirby and ,spence1 we have the experiments of ,huber4 ,it seems that no odour is so unpleasant to insects as that of oil of turpentine4 ,m4 ,huber having presented this oil1 on the point of a camel's hair pencil1 successively to every part of the abdomen1 trunk and head1 it excited no uneasiness in the bee3 he then tried the eyes and antenn1 but with the same result2 yet as soon as he pointed it a little above the insertion of the proboscis1 near the cavity of the mouth1 the bee receded1 became agitated1 clapped its wings1 and would have taken flight1 had not the pencil been withdrawn4 ,this experiment was repeated with the turpentine and other articles of penetrating odour1 and with the same effect2 but when the mouths of several bees were stopped with paste1 no such consequences ensued1 on the contrary they traversed the impregnated pencils without being at all annoyed by them2 even honey did not attract them4 ,all these circumstances tend to prove that the site of smelling is in or near the mouth4--,this subject will be resumed in ,chap4 ,,xxxii4 ,organs of ,respiration4 ,the respiration of bees is performed through several little orifices1 called stigmata1 spiracles1 or breathing pores1 situated in the sides of their bodies1 behind their wings4 ,reaumur was of opinion that inspiration was performed through the spiracles1 and expiration through the mouth2 but ,bonnet proved satisfactorily that neither inspiration nor expiration takes place through the mouth4 ,the spiracles are connected with a system of air-vessels called trache1 ramifying through every part of the frame1 and serving the purpose of lungs4 ,from the absence of lungs1 ,aristotle and the ancients in general thought that insects did not breathe4 ,pliny may perhaps be excepted1 for he has observed that dipping bees in honey or oil deprives them of life2--this immersion stops up the mouths of the spiracles4 ,modern physiologists have however incontestibly proved that they do breathe4 ,life and flame1 says ,cuvier1 have this in common1 that neither the one nor the other can subsist without air2 all living beings1 from man to the most minute vegetable1 perish when they are utterly deprived of that fluid4 ,huber detected the existence of the stigmata or breathing pores1 by immersing different portions of a bee in water1 and finally by total immersion1 upon which he observed that bubbles of air attached themselves for some time to the orifices of the stigmata1 which alternately appeared and receded1 till their increased bulk enabled them to overcome the resistance of inspiration and rise to the surface4 ,these respiratory organs escaped the observation of ,swammerdam4 ,air is equally necessary to insects in the egg state3 ,spallanzani found that their eggs could not be hatched in small close vessels1 though all other circumstances were favourable to a development4 ,the eggs of the hive-bee1 whilst in the ovaries1 have a net-work of air-vessels spread over their surfaces2--these were discovered by ,swammerdam3 from analogy1 we may reasonably conclude1 that such a provision obtains generally4 ,the closeness of a hive1 and its having no direct current of air through it1 may favour a belief that bees can exist in any atmosphere1 however vitiated1 and may seem also to confirm the opinion of the ancients1 that they have no particular system of respiratory organs4 ,but ,m4 ,huber and ,son have proved that they breathe like other animals1 that they are speedily deprived of life1 if the process of respiration be arrested2 so delicate indeed is their organization1 that they detect the smallest deterioration in the atmosphere of their hives1 and immediately adopt measures to restore to this element the degree of purity essential to respiration3 from some eudiometrical experiments1 it has been ascertained that the air of a well stocked hive is as pure as that by which it is surrounded4 ,still neither wax nor pollen favours the generation of oxygen gas1 nor have bees the faculty of generating it2 for when very closely shut up1 they perish in a few hours4 ,the writers just referred to1 discovered that the bees1 by uniting the two wings of each side1 by means of the small marginal hooks with which they are provided1 so as to make them present the largest possible surface to the air1 were capable of striking it with considerable force1 and that this force was increased by the wings forming a slight concavity4 ,the wings arranged in this manner1 are put into a violent vibratory motion by the bees appointed to the office of ventilators1 and produce what we call a draught of air4 ,ventilation is thus systematically accomplished4 ,a certain portion of ventilating bees is stationed in files at the entrance of the hive1 with their heads turned inwards2 another and a larger party1 in files also1 stands a considerable way in the interior1 with their heads towards the entrance3 thus both these parties cooperate1 in producing a current of air in the same direction1 and are so arranged as not to interrupt the passage of their fellow-citizens1 moving in and out4 ,as this hard duty has no intermission during the day1 nor in hot weather during the night1 and must necessarily occasion fatigue1 one set of ventilators is considerately relieved in about twenty-five minutes1 by another set of fresh bees4 ,under particular circumstances the number of ventilating bees is considerably increased4 ,when the air1 says ,huber1 was not renewed in the manner desirable1 we have seen all vibrating their wings at once1 though this never occurs in the natural state1 when the vibrations of a few are sufficient for ventilation4 ,although this fanning motion of the wings is so rapid as to render them almost indistinguishable1 yet they may be observed to describe an arc of #ij4 ,the sagacious bees remind me of a method which is sometimes adopted of renewing the air of a room1 called pumping2 some person moves the door backward and forward so rapidly as to cause a thorough agitation of the confined air1 and the introduction of a fresh unvitiated atmosphere4 ,when they are engaged in ventilation1 the bees by means of their feet and claws1 fix themselves as firmly as possible1 to the place they stand upon4 ,the first pair of legs is stretched out before2 the second extended to the right and left3 whilst the third1 placed very near each other1 are perpendicular to the abdomen1 so as to give that part considerable elevation4 ,that ventilation is carried on for the purpose of renewing the air of the hives1 and not for lowering its temperature1 is evident from its being continued to a certain extent1 even during the depth of winter4 ,the vibratory motion of the bee's wings has been regarded by some as the principal cause of the humming noise heard in every prosperous hive during the busy season4 ,this humming has likewise been attributed to the rushing of the air through their spiracles3 so thought ,m4 ,chabrier1 and1 ,i believe1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,hunter4 ,mr4 ,h4 assures us that bees can produce a sound independently of their wings2 for if these be smeared over with honey so as to stick together1 the bee still makes a noise1 which is shrill and peevish4 ,he found the same effect from holding the bee by the legs1 with a pair of pincers1 while the wings were perfectly still1 and also by immersing the insect in water1 though not till it was very much teased4 ,the whole body of a drone is in a state of vibration when it hums4 ,though deprived of its wings1 it is capable of producing a sound exactly similar1 and probably the same with its former hum3 even when the legs are cut off1 the trunk retains its tremulous motion1 and utters an audible noise4 ,if immersed in water1 many air-bubbles are disengaged from it3 but though the mutilated insect be taken out alive1 it is no longer sonorous4 ,this experiment1 however incomplete1 says a writer in the ,dictionnaire des ,sciences ,naturelles1 tends at least to prove1 that the humming of bees is not occasioned by a strong vibration of the internal part of the upper wings1 but rather by a tremulous affection of the entire body2 and perhaps even by the escape of a greater quantity of air through the stigmata or spiracles4 ,this last would amount to a sort of voice4 ,the humming noise with which a flower is always approached by the bee1 ceases as soon as she has alighted upon it1 though during the time that she is extracting its sweets she is in a constant vibratory motion4 ,circulation4 ,the term circulation is not strictly applicable to the imperfect sanguineous system of insects1 as the fluid which supplies their bodies with nutriment is not distributed to its several parts through the medium of a heart and vascular system4 ,lyonnet and ,cuvier are both of opinion that insects have no heart1 whereas all creatures that possess a circulation1 properly so called1 have a heart1 lungs or gills1 and a liver2 but insects have only air-vessels and hepatic ducts4 ,the chyle which is produced in their intestines1 transpiring through the pores of the intestinal canal1 passes into the general cavity of the body1 where it is probably animalized1 and made to answer the same purposes that blood does to creatures of a higher class1 though when animalized it still retains its white colour4 ,although its distribution is obscure1 from its analogy to blood1 we may conclude that it is a fluid which visits and nourishes every part of the insect's body2 that from it secretions are made1 and that1 as in other creatures1 it is fitted for these purposes by receiving oxygen from the air-vessels4 ,cuvier has observed that the blood of insects1 for want of a circulating system1 not being able to seek the air1 the air goes to seek the blood2 the air-vessels1 as ,i have stated under the head of ,respiration1 are distributed to every part of the body4 ,nutrition4 ,from what ,i have said under the head of ,circulation1 it will appear evident that the bodies of bees and other insects are supplied with nutriment in a very simple manner4 ,cuvier is of opinion that it is obtained by direct absorption or transudation1 by imbibition as he calls it1 through the pores of the intestinal canal1 along which the blood or animalized chyle passes3 and ,lyonnet thinks that this imbibition is analogous to that which takes place from the earth by the roots of plants4 ,secretion4 ,every thing connected with the subject of secretion seems to be obscure3 it is evident1 however1 that secretions do take place2 for silk1 wax1 and poison are all the results of that process4 ,the first of these substances is only secreted by the bee when in its larva state4 ,i must refer those who wish for information respecting silk1 to those naturalists who have written on the silk-worm4 ,the secretion of wax ,i shall treat of hereafter in a distinct chapter2 and it will be better perhaps to speak of ,poison1 after describing the sting and its appurtenances4 ,there is one secretion however1 on which ,i will say a few words in this place1--viz4 ,perspiration4 ,perspiration4 ,the temperature of insects not gregarious1 is generally that of the medium they inhabit2 but bees possess the power not only of preserving a high temperature during the coldest mouths of winter1 but of raising that temperature under particular circumstances4 ,dr4 ,darwin has observed that they generate heat by a general motion of their legs1 as they hang clustered together in the hives3 ,huber thinks that it may be increased by the agitation of their wings2--whatever disturbs them so as to cause a tumult invariably produces a considerable accession of heat4 ,inch1 a ,german1 plunged a thermometer into a bee-hive in the winter1 and saw the mercury stand #bg degrees higher than it did in the open air4 ,mr4 ,hunter found the heat of a hive vary from #gc to #hd of ,fahrenheit2 and ,huber1 who says that in a prosperous hive the thermometer in winter commonly stands at from #hf to #hh1 and in summer between #ie and #ig1 states that he has observed it1 on some occasions1 to rise suddenly from about #ib to above #ajd4 ,the former naturalist1 about ten o'clock in the morning1 in the middle of ,july1 when the quicksilver in the thermometer in the open air ranged at #ed1 found that on plunging it into a bee-hive1 it rose in less than five minutes to #hb4 ,at five the next morning it stood at #gi1--;at nine it had risen to #hc1--;at one to #hd2 and at nine in the evening it had fallen to #gh4 ,on the #cjth of ,december1 when the temperature of the air was #ce1 that in the hive was #gc4 ,bees also possess the power of counteracting or throwing off superabundant heat1 by perspiration4 ,huber observed1 that when crowded together in hot weather1 they become much heated1 and perspire so copiously that those near the bottom seem perfectly drenched1 and are for a time incapable of flying from the moisture on their wings4 ,motion4 ,the motions of insects are performed through the medium of an appropriate apparatus of muscles1 which move the head1 trunk1 abdomen1 viscera1 and limbs1 as in other parts of the animal creation4 ,the muscles of insects generally possess very great power1 as may be seen by the motion of the mandibles1 and the propulsion of the bee's sting4 ,it is very strikingly evinced also in the flea4 ,latreille gives an account of one that dragged a silver cannon twenty-four times its own weight1 firing it off afterwards1 without exhibiting any symptom of fear4 ,an ,english workman also is said to have made an ivory coach1 with six horses1 a coachman on the seat with a dog between his legs1 a postillion1 four persons in the coach1 and four lacqueys behind1--the whole of which was dragged by a single flea4 ,a further evidence of the muscular power of the flea is the extent of its leaps1 which equal a space of #bjj times the length of its own body4 ,this calculation1 or a very similar one1 was made by ,socrates1 who was much ridiculed for it by ,aristophanes4 ,the poet1 however1 did not confine his ridicule to this minuteness of calculation1 but attacked likewise the character and precepts of that great philosopher2 for the whole of which satire he has justly incurred the censure of posterity4 ,organs of ,reproduction4 ,these organs1 in the drone1 correspond in function and denomination with those of the higher classes of animals3 their chief peculiarity consists in their size1 in proportion to that of the insect1 and in their being more under the belly than in other insects of this tribe2--they are larger than those of the humble-bee1 and the two last scales of the back and belly are larger than those of the queen or workers4 ,the female organs consist principally of the ovaries1 the oviducts1 the sperm-reservoir1 and the ovipositor4 ,in the ovaries the eggs are generated1 and remain till rendered fit by impregnation1 and the other circumstances necessary for their maturation1 to pass through the oviducts4 ,according to ,mr4 ,hunter1 what are called ovaries are really ducts2 the eggs therefore are not formed as in other animals1 in a cluster on the back1 but in those ducts1 of which there are six on each side4 ,when full of eggs1 they form a kind of quadrangle2 these six ducts uniting on each side into one duct1 this latter enters a duct common to both sides1 which may be called the vagina or ovipositor4 ,the common oviduct is the canal through which the eggs pass from the ovaries as they are called1 to the ovipositor4 ,the sperm-reservoir is the organ which1 according to ,herold1 receives the impregnating sperm of the drone1 the modus operandi of which we are unacquainted with4 ,in the hive-bee and in some other insects1 the influence of this sperm continues so long a time1 and through so many generations1 as almost to exceed belief4 7,vide page #ca74 ,this led ,dr4 ,haighton to entertain the opinion that actual contact betwixt the male sperm and the egg was not necessary1 but that impregnation was effected by some unknown sympathetic influence4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence have recourse to the old doctrine of an aura seminalis being all that is required to vivify the egg1 and which they think may be retained for a long period4 ,upon this subject ,i have entered at some length in page #be et seq4 ,the ovipositor places the eggs in their appropriate situations1 and is an instrument of most curious structure4 ,it consists of a long tube1 or rather several tubes1 retractile within each other1 like the pieces of a telescope1 and serves not only to convey the extruded eggs to the place of their destination1 but acts also as a sheath for the sting1 having a sharp point which makes the first impression when the creature intends to use its sting1--indeed it appears to be itself the sting4 ,it has a slit near its extremity1 through which the sting and poison are allowed to pass at the time of stinging4 ,some insects have occasion to bore a hole in wood1 or other hard substances1 to obtain a proper nidus for their eggs2 the ovipositor is their operating instrument1 and will either saw or bore a passage to the desired place4 ,thus it appears that this curiously complex apparatus1 which in the bee is used both as a weapon of defence and offence1 is a hollow horny tube or scabbard1 inclosing two bearded darts1 which can be thrust a short way beyond the sheath1 though the whole appears to the naked eye like the solid point of the minutest needle4 ,this apparatus is moved by muscles which1 though invisible to the eye1 are yet strong enough to force the sting to the depth of one twelfth of an inch through the thick cuticle of a man's hand4 ,it is articulated by thirteen scales to the lower end of the insect's body2 and at its root are situated two glands or ducts1 from which the poison is secreted3 these glands uniting in one duct1 eject the venomous liquid along the groove formed by the junction of the two piercers4 ,there are four beards on the outside of each piercer3 when the insect is prepared to sting1 one of these piercers1 having its point a little longer or more in advance than the other1 first darts into the flesh1 and being fixed by its foremost beard1 the other strikes in also1 and they alternately penetrate deeper and deeper1 till they acquire a firm hold of the flesh with their hooks1 and then follows the sheath entering and conveying the poison into the wound4 ,the action of the sting1 says ,paley1 affords an example of the union of chemistry and mechanism3 of chemistry1 in respect to the venom which can produce such powerful effects3 of mechanism1 as the sting is a compound instrument4 ,the machinery would have been comparatively useless had it not been for the chemical process1 by which in the insect's body honey is converted into poison2 and on the other hand1 the poison would have been ineffectual1 without an instrument to wound1 and a syringe to inject it4 ,in consequence of the barbed form of its sting the bee can seldom disengage itself without leaving behind it the whole apparatus1 and even part of its bowels2 so that her life is usually sacrificed to her passion4 ,illis ira modum supra est1 lsque venenum ,morsibus inspirant1 et spicula cca relinquunt1 ,affix venis1 animasque in vulnera ponunt4 ,virgil ,the sting of the queen-bee is longer and stouter than that of the working-bee1 and bends a little under her belly4 ,she is not eager to employ it2 and from what has been said above1 of the fatality which usually attends its use1 conjecture has been busy as to the cause of her extreme caution in this respect4 ,dr4 ,evans observes1 that it cannot arise from any selfish consideration1 founded on an instinctive knowledge of the danger she thereby incurs2 since the common bees1 who run the same risk when they sting1 are ready to attack upon the slightest provocation4 ,is it owing1 says he1 to a consciousness of the importance of her life to the community8 or may we rather ascribe it to the dignified and generous forbearance so frequently exemplified in the lion or ,english mastiff8 ,the reluctance of queens to eject their stings1 led ,pliny and others to imagine that they did not possess any4 ,their extreme caution in this respect1 and the fatal consequences usually attending a departure from it1 gave birth to the following jeux d'esprit4 ,in consequence of ,pope ,urban the ,eighth being suspected of a stronger attachment to the ,french than to the ,spaniards1 a ,frenchman who had observed three bees quartered upon his arms1 wrote this ,latin verse4 ,gallis mella dabunt1 ,hispanis spicula figent4 ,to this a ,spaniard is said to have subjoined1 ,spicula si figant1 emorientur apes4 ,to close the series1 and to show his universal paternal regard towards his flock1 ,pope ,urban is made to add the following distich3 ,cunctis mella dabunt1 et nullis spicula figent1 ,spicula rex,m etenim figere nescit apum4 ,footnote ,m3 ,the ancients supposed the sovereign of the bees to be a male4 ,this caution of the queens is never more conspicuously evinced than in their combats with each other1 for they instantly separate if there be any danger of mutual destruction from the darting forth of their stings4 ,huber gives a striking instance of this4 ,two queens in one of his hives having left their cells at nearly the same instant1 rushed together with great apparent fury4 ,the antenn of each were seized by the teeth of the other1 and the head1 breast1 and belly of both were mutually opposed4 ,finding themselves however thus dangerously situated1 and their curved extremities on the point of meeting1 each disengaged itself and flew away2 when the other bees1 who had before receded1 to make a clear arena for the combatants1 drove them together again4 ,this was done repeatedly1 till at last the stronger queen1 seizing the other's wing1 and curling her extremities under her belly1 inflicted a mortal sting4 ,i think this observation of ,huber puts a negative upon ,dr4 ,evans's last question1 and to assent to his first would ,i apprehend raise her majesty too high in the scale of existence4 ,i believe we must here1 as in many other similar cases1 acknowledge our ignorance1 and refer the proceeding to instinct4 ,we have seen that where there is more than one native queen in a hive1 there is always a combat between them1 terminating in the death of all but one4 ,it was the opinion of ,schirach and ,riem1 that if a stranger queen were introduced where there was a native one1 the former would be assailed by the workers1 and by them stung to death4 ,the experiments of ,huber and ,dunbar discountenance this opinion3 indeed ,huber says that in the whole course of his experience he never knew more than one instance of a queen's being stung by a worker1 and that was wholly unintentional4 ,but though the experiments to which ,i have just alluded1 produced different results from what we were led to expect by ,schirach and ,riem1 yet those of ,huber did not correspond with those of ,dunbar4 ,the former introduced two stranger queens into hives containing native queens2 of the latter1 one was fertile the other a virgin1--the former were both fertile4 ,each of these introductions led to a single combat between the queens1 and each terminated in the death of the stranger4 ,the latter gentleman also on two occasions introduced stranger queens to the queens regnant1 in his mirror-hive2 but in neither case were they stung to death1 either by the queen or workers1 but merely surrounded and confined by the latter1 and by that confinement either suffocated or starved to death4 ,schirach and ,riem had probably witnessed similar conduct on the part of the workers1 and were no doubt led thereby to conjecture that they dispatched the queens with their stings4 ,from what has been said of the fatal consequence to the bee itself when it makes use of its sting for the annoyance of man and other animals1 it might be supposed that the darting of this weapon by one bee into the body of another1 might cause the death of both2 but this is not usually the case1 otherwise there would be a great mortality amongst them1 when the persecution of the drones takes place4 ,huber contrived1 by placing several of his hives upon a glass table1 to witness this scene of massacre2 on which occasion the bees thrust their stings so deeply into the bodies of the drones1 7generally between the segments of the abdomen17 as to be obliged to turn upon themselves1 as upon a pivot1 before they could extricate them2 but by so doing they succeeded1 as do the queens also in their combats with each other4 ,instances are related1 of combats between workers proving mutually destructive1 from the victors being unable to extricate their stings from the wounds they have inflicted4 ,mr4 ,hunter saw an instance of this3 the bee was stung in the mouth2 and he saw it running about afterwards1 with the sting and its appurtenances adherent in the wound4 ,indeed by allowing the bee to draw out her ,sting gradually1 when we ourselves are stung1--which if we had sufficient firmness and presence of mind to remain still1 she would instinctively do1 by bringing the beards close down to the sides of the darts1--the life of this valuable insect might be preserved1 and the pain in the wounded part be much lessened3 but the alarm of both parties seldom admits of such forbearance4 ,the wasp is not so liable to leave its sting behind as the bee1 the beards of the former being rather shorter1 and the insect stronger and more active4 ,the sooner the sting is extracted the less venom is ejected1 and consequently less inflammation induced4 ,to alleviate the irritation1 numberless remedies have been proposed1 of the most opposite kind and uncertain effect2 as oil1 vinegar1 bruised parsley1 burnet1 mallow1 or the leaves of any succulent vegetable 7renewed as soon as warm1 and probably therefore operating by cold alone71 honey1 indigo dissolved in water1 c4 c4 ,the most effectual remedy appears to be the ,aq4 ,ammon4 or ,spirit of ,hartshorn3 nor is this surprising1 when we consider that the venom of the bee1 or wasp1 is evidently acid4 ,if a humble-bee be irritated to sting paper tinged with litmus1 or any other of the vegetable blues1 the colour is changed by the acid of the venom to a bright red2 this acid appears not to differ from the acid 7bombic7 of silk-worms1 or 7formic7 of ants4 ,the acrimony of the latter many have experienced when inadvertently sitting down on an ant-hill4 ,on this principle1 a solution of any alkali1 or even lime-water1 might answer the same purpose2 and soap would have the double advantage of neutralizing the acid and allaying the inflammation1 by the oil which would be disengaged4 ,plunging the part stung into cold or warm water would afford the same relief as in burns1 c4 and also dilute the acid acrimony4 ,quietness is the surest protection against being stung4 ,it has lately been affirmed1 that a person is perfectly secure amidst myriads of bees1 if he carefully keep his mouth shut1 and breathe gently through the nostrils only1 the human breath being1 as it would appear1 highly offensive to their delicate organs4 7,vide ,senses of ,bees47 ,it is added that with this precaution1 hives may be turned up1 and even part of the combs cut out1 while the bees are at work1 with perfect impunity4 ,those who wish to view the sting of a wasp or bee through a microscope1 may cut off the end of its tail1 when by touching it with a needle or pin it will thrust out the darts and their sheath1 which may be then snipt off with a pair of scissors and reserved for observation4 ,if the insect be caught in a leather glove and provoked to eject its sting1 the same end will be answered2 as the sting being detained by its barbs1 will be left in the leather1 from whence1 when the creature is dead 7which in the case of a wasp will not be for many hours71 the whole apparatus may1 with care1 be extracted4 ,upon examining the edge of a very keen razor by the microscope1 it appeared as broad as the back of a pretty thick knife1 rough1 uneven1 and full of notches and furrows1 and so far from any thing like sharpness1 that an instrument as blunt as this seemed to be1 would not serve even to cleave wood,n4 ,an exceedingly small needle being also examined1 the point thereof appeared above a quarter of an inch in breadth2 not round1 nor flat1 but irregular and unequal2 and the surface1 though extremely smooth and bright to the naked eye1 seemed full of ruggedness1 holes1 and scratches4 ,in short it resembled an iron bar out of a smith's forge,o4 ,but the sting of a bee1 viewed through the same instrument1 showed every where a polish most amazingly beautiful1--without the least flaw1 blemish1 or inequality2 and ended in a point too fine to be discovered3 yet this is only the case or sheath of instruments much more exquisite1 contained therein1 as before described4 ,footnote ,n3 ,hook's ,microcosm4 ,footnote ,o3 ,philosophical ,transactions4 ,the ,poison of ,bees4 ,the poison of bees1 as also that of wasps1 is a transparent fluid3 applied to the tongue it imparts a sweet taste1 which is succeeded by a hot acrid one4 ,it gives a slight red tinge1 as has been already hinted1 to litmus paper1 and hence the ,abb ,fontana has concluded that an acid enters into its composition1 but in very small proportion4 ,the venom is so extremely active1 that he conjectures a grain in weight would kill a pigeon in a few seconds4 ,it is this fluid which causes the inflammation consequent upon being stung4 ,a puncture from a needle that was charged with it1 would produce precisely the same effects4 ,these effects are very different in different persons2 for whilst a single sting will produce alarming symptoms in one individual1 another may receive numerous punctures without sustaining pain or inflammation in any considerable degree2 sometimes without suffering either4 ,the activity of the venom varies according to the season of the year3 a sting received in winter produces much less inconvenience than one inflicted in summer2 the pain and inflammation are neither so intense nor of such long continuance4 ,this may arise from there being a more copious secretion of venom in summer than in winter2 for during the former season1 if a bee inflict several wounds with its sting1 the pain and inflammation become progressively less at each consecutive puncture3 after three or four punctures1 it is rendered incapable of producing more inconvenience than the point of a sharp needle4 ,if a bee be provoked to dart its sting against glass1 so as to eject its venom upon it1 and the glass thus charged be placed upon a double microscope1 oblong pointed crystals will become visible2 these may be seen at first floating in the venom1 and gradually shooting into crystals as the fluid part evaporates4 ,the ,anger of ,bees4 ,i have already treated of the disposition of bees to use their stings1 when irritated1 either by direct interference with them1 or by the approach of persons to whom they have an antipathy4 ,virgil has1 in strong terms1 noticed their irascibility3--when once provoked1 says he1 they set no bounds to their anger1 but ,deem life itself to vengeance well resign'd1 ,die on the wound1 and leave their stings behind4 ,fatal consequences occurring from their wounds are not often heard of1 though such ,i believe have occasionally happened4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence relate an instance of a violent fever being produced1 by the injury they inflicted1 and in which the person's recovery was for some time doubtful4 ,mungo ,park also mentions1 in his ,travels1 an instance of severe annoyance from them1 and states that he lost several asses in ,africa owing to their being attacked by bees4 ,mr4 ,talbot1 in his ,five ,years ,residence in the ,canadas1 states1 that during the summer of #ahbj1 the ,rev4 ,ralph ,leeming having sent a fine horse to grass at a neighbouring farmer's1 who kept about twenty stocks of bees1 the animal got upon the lawn where the hives were placed1 and by accident overturned one of them1 the bees of which attacked him with great virulence4 ,the horse1 rearing and kicking from agony1 overthrew another hive4 ,having thus doubled the number of his assailants1 his sufferings brought him to the ground1 and in less than five minutes from the commencement of the attack the poor animal was literally stung to death4 ,the anger of bees is not confined to man1 and other large animals2 it is sometimes vented upon their own kind1 not only in single combat1 but in conflicts of organized masses4 ,cases of the former kind every observer must have noticed2 and of the latter1 several instances have been related by ,reaumur1 ,thorley1 ,knight1 and others4 ,the engagement1 witnessed by ,thorley1 lasted more than two days1 and originated in a swarm's attempting to take possession of an already occupied hive4 ,remarkable battles of this kind have also been related by other writers4 ,whenever the angry excitation is diffused through a whole community1 a great accession of heat is produced in the hive4 ,notwithstanding bees are thus occasionally animated by a most vindictive spirit1 against what they regard as a public enemy1 they are not found to display any peculiar hostility in the revenge of a private injury1 committed upon them at a distance from their homes4 ,this is a fact which has been noticed both by ,mr4 ,hunter and ,mr4 ,knight4 ,the former observes also1 that bees never sting but in the neighbourhood of their property1 unless hurt2 that they never contend with each other for honey1 unless it be placed within the boundary of their own right1--but that what they have collected they defend4 ,the indisposition of bees to attack or be angry at a distance has been confirmed by ,mr4 ,knight1 who says1 that1 though the most irritable of animals near home1 he has seen them suffer themselves to be patiently robbed of their loads by other bees1 and that he has witnessed this in the same bee three times in succession4 ,he says likewise1 that if the wasps in a nest have their communication cut off from those that are abroad1 the latter1 on their return1 will not make any attack2 but that if one escape from the interior1 it evinces a very different temper1 and is ready to sacrifice its life to avenge the injury4 ,this ,mr4 ,knight discovered when a boy1 and he has no doubt but that if a similar proceeding were adopted towards bees1 they would observe the same conduct4 ,the ,language of ,bees4 ,all creatures that live in society seem to possess the power of communicating intelligence to one another4 ,brutes1 says ,mr4 ,knight1 have language to express sentiments of love1 of fear1 and of anger2 yet they seem unable to transmit any impression they have received from external objects4 ,but the language of bees is more extensive3 if not a language of ideas1 it is something very similar4 ,this faculty has been very remarkably illustrated by ,huber in his ,treatise on ,ants2 and the bee exhibits many strong evidences of it4 ,huber clearly shows that the communications of ,ants are made through the medium of their antenn2 he has also proved very satisfactorily1 that these organs serve the same purpose in bees4 ,being desirous of ascertaining whether when a queen was removed from a hive1 7a circumstance which is communicated to the whole family within an hour17 they discovered their loss by means of smell1 touch1 or any unknown sense2 he accordingly divided a hive into two portions1 by means of a grating which admitted a free circulation of air1 but denied a passage to the bees1 or even to their antenn3 the consequence was1 that the bees contained in the half that had no queen1 after they had recovered from the agitation,p always produced under such circumstances1 set about building royal cells1 just as they would have done if the queen had been entirely removed from the hive4 ,he repeated this experiment1 with a grating which allowed the transmission of the antenn only4 ,here the effect was quite different3 for the bees being able to assure themselves1 by the frequent crossing of their antenn with those of the queen1 that she was still amongst them1 every thing remained in order2 the brood were attended to1 no interruption took place in any of their labours1 nor were any royal cells commenced4 ,from all these experiments 7and they were repeatedly tried71 it seems evident that the antenn of bees1 as well as of ants1 possess the faculty of receiving and conveying information4 ,bees receive some kinds of intelligence through the medium of certain sounds1 as has been stated in another place4 ,footnote ,p3 ,this agitation usually continues two or three hours1 sometimes 7though but seldom7 four or five1--never longer4 ,the antenn1 in addition to the uses already ascribed to them1 may serve to inform the bees of the state of the atmosphere1 and enable them to discern the approach of a change in the weather4 ,the suddenness and rapidity of their flight towards the apiary1 often afford a hint to the observer of their proceedings1 that a storm is at hand1 of which he received no intimation from any other quarter4 ,inque vicem speculantur aquas et nubila cli4 ,virgil ,that the bees1 says ,dr4 ,evans1 can foresee bad weather1 is a fact beyond denial2 though we know not through the medium of what sense that faculty is exerted4 ,we are often surprised to find1 even with a promising appearance of the sky1 their labours suddenly cease1 and that not a bee stirs out2 or1 on the contrary1 that those which a e abroad1 hurry home in such crowds that the door is too small for their admission4 ,but on strictly examining the heavens1 we may discern some small and distant clouds1 which1 insensibly collecting1 soon after descend in rain4 ,the ,doctor likewise says1 that an observant friend of his1 foretells with confidence that rain will fall in the course of a few hours1 when he finds on a clear summer's morning that his garden is wholly deserted by his neighbour's bees4 ,in this he enjoys an advantage over their real owner1 the flowers near the apiary being crowded as usual by these wary foragers4 ,if1 says ,mr4 ,kirby1 they wander far from home1 and do not return till late in the evening1 it is a prognostic to be depended upon1 that the following day will be fine3 but if they remain near their habitations1 and be seen frequently going and returning1--although no indication of wet should be discoverable1 clouds will soon arise and rain come on4 ,ants also are observed to be excellently gifted in this respect3 though they daily bring out their larv to the sun1 they are never overtaken by sudden showers4 ,i have before stated that in the course of an hour the important intelligence of the loss or safety of a queen is known to a whole colony4 ,it seems highly improbable that in this time1 #bj1jjj bees should have assured themselves of the presence and safety of their queen1 by applying their antenn to hers2 such an attempt would create a state of complete confusion4 ,huber proved by a very decisive experiment1 similar to those already related1 that the queen is not distinguishable by her subjects1 in consequence of any emanation from her person4 ,there must then be some mode1 to which ,i have given the name of language1 by which those who have exchanged contact with their antenn can communicate the tranquillizing intelligence to their companions4 ,it seems impossible to explain1 in any other way1 the concurrence of so many wills to one end2 or that sudden interruption and restitution of harmony which are often exhibited in every community of bees4 ,it is the opinion of ,mr4 ,knight that bees are not only capable of communicating intelligence to the members of their own family1 but that a friendly intercourse sometimes takes place between neighbouring colonies3 the cases which he has related in support of this opinion1 however1 can hardly be said to bear him out in it2 for in each of them1 after the intercourse had continued for a few days1 it terminated in violent hostility4 ,such instances1 though not of frequent occurrence1 have been occasionally noticed by others4 ,sleep of ,bees4 ,it is reasonable to suppose that every part of animated nature needs occasional intervals of repose4 ,that this is the case with the bee seems evident1 from the almost motionless quietude of the workers1 which often occurs for fifteen or twenty minutes together1 each bee inserting its head and thorax into a cell1 where it might be mistaken for dead1 were it not for the dilatation of the segments of its abdomen4 ,the queen sometimes does the same in a drone's cell1 where she continues without motion a very long time1 when the workers form a circle round her1 and gently brush the uncovered parts of her abdomen4 ,the drones while reposing do not enter the cells1 but cluster in the combs1 and sometimes remain without stirring a limb for eighteen or twenty hours4 ,huber says that he has seen the workers1 even in the middle of the day1 when apparently wearied with exertion1 insert half their bodies into the empty cells1 and remain there1 as if taking a nap1 for half an hour or longer2 at night they regularly muster1 in a sleep-like silence4 ,the sun declining1 through the murky air4 ,home to their hives the vagrant bands repair1 ,there in soft slumber close their willing eyes1 ,and hush'd in silence1 the whole nation lies4 ,murphy's ,vaniere4 ,longevity of ,bees4 ,the several members of a hive have very different periods of existence4 ,the general law among insects is1 that both male and female shall perish soon after sexual union2 in a few days or weeks at furthest1 according to the time1 probably1 that the female occupies in maturing and depositing her eggs4 ,by retarding sexual union1 the lives of some insects may be very much prolonged1--even ephemer have been kept alive by this means for seven or eight days4 ,annual plants1 if prevented from seeding1 may be rendered biennial4 ,the bee and some other insects are exempted from this forfeiture of life after sexual union1 with the exception already alluded to in page #cc4 ,the ancients were very deficient in knowledge upon this subject4 ,virgil fixes the term of a bee's existence at seven years,q1 having probably copied from ,aristotle2 though ,aristotle says that bees who live to an extreme old age may reach to nine or ten years4 ,columella,r and ,pliny,s have been supposed to regard their existence as extending to ten years2 though the language of the former applies to the existence of the community1 and not to individual bees3 and provided the hive be never changed1 nor the combs renewed1 it is not likely that any one family should have its existence prolonged beyond that period2 as the accumulation of silken pellicles with which the breeding-cells are successively lined1 would render them unfit for use in a very few years4 ,in addition to the diminution of the cells by this succession of silken linings1 they are also diminished further by the excrement of the larv1 which is never cleaned out1 but confined behind each lining3 both together1 therefore1 soon render the cells unfit for use as brood-cells4 ,mr4 ,hunter found three of these layers deposited in a single season1 and counted upwards of twenty in the cells of an old comb2 which1 upon an average of three a year1 would correspond with the period fixed by the ancients2 though this observation by no means proves that the hive upon which it was made1 or any other1 might not have had a much more protracted existence4 ,mr4 ,espinasse tells us that he once took a hive which had stood fourteen years1 having found that it had become weak3 it had nevertheless sent off a swarm the year previous4 ,there is an instance or two on record1 of one family having continued in the same hive for thirty years4 ,one of these is mentioned by ,reaumur1 another by ,mouffet4 ,thorley speaks of a colony having occupied the same domicile for #aaj years4 ,the spot chosen was under the leads of the study of ,ludovicus ,vives in ,oxford3 the original swarm settled there in #aebj and kept possession till #afcj4 ,query1--may not the bees when the combs become very old and the cells much diminished in size1 remove them and construct fresh ones8 ,to those who may wish for their own satisfaction to examine the linings of a brood cell1 ,i would observe1 that ,mr4 ,hunter's mode of proceeding was1 to soak the cell in water1 till the linings were swelled1 when he had no difficulty in separating and counting them3 he found them separate most readily at the bottom1 on account of the inclosed excrement4 ,footnote ,q3 ,ergo ipsas quamvis angusti terminus vi ,excipiat1 neque enim plus septima ducitur stas4 ,footnote ,r3 ,durantque1 si diligenter excult sint1 in annos decem4 ,columella ,footnote ,s3 ,alveos nunquam ,ultra decem annos durasse proditur4 ,pliny ,to common observers it might appear1 that the lives of the bees were coeval with the foundation of the colony1 presuming upon all the young bees leaving the parent stock in swarms4 ,but ,i have already stated that all swarms consist of a mixture of young and old bees2 the difference between them is very distinguishable1 those of the present year being brown1 plump1 and clothed with light hairs1 whilst the old ones have red hairs1 notched and ragged wings1 and are paler and more shrunk in their bodies4 ,the cases which ,i have related1 and others of a similar kind1 have led to the erroneous opinion that bees are a long-lived race4 ,but this1 as ,dr4 ,evans has observed1 is just as wise as if a stranger1 contemplating a populous city1 and personally unacquainted with its inhabitants1 should on paying it a second visit1 many years afterwards1 and finding it equally populous1 imagine that it was peopled by the same individuals1 not one of whom might be then alive4 ,such strangers are we to the honied hive1 where1 however quickly its generations may have passed away1 the same face is presented to the beholder4 ,the race and realm from age to age remain1 ,and time but lengthens with new links the chain4 ,sotheby's ,georgics4 ,the usual term of the male's existence is two or three months only2--,i say the usual term1 for his life is always cut off by violence1 when no peculiar circumstances arise to render his existence any longer useful4 ,such circumstances having arisen1 as has been before observed1 7page #dd17 he may be kept alive a much longer period1 for a year at least1 but how much longer has not as yet been ascertained4 ,with respect to the queen1 by comparing what has been said above1 as to insects not dying till their eggs are all matured1 with what has been stated in page #ca of a single sexual union serving to impregnate all the eggs laid for the two succeeding years1 it would appear that the period of her existence could not1 in general1 be less than two years2 and ,huber has proved very satisfactorily1 that this is the fact3 indeed he states that he has known a queen live for five years4 ,feburier suspects that1 like the males1 the queens are destroyed by the labourers1 when they have fulfilled their destination4 ,the only ground of this opinion1 however1 appears to be his having witnessed an attack made upon a queen by six labourers1 from whom he with difficulty rescued her4 ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 in like manner1 seem to think it not improbable that when the workers become too old to be useful to the community1 they are either killed or expelled the society4 ,vide page #g4 ,reaumur also throws out a hint to the same purpose4 ,the length of a working bee's life has not yet been ascertained2 but the general opinion is that it is short-lived4 ,butler says that the bee is but little more than a year's bird2 and some think the period of its existence shorter still4 ,the bees of the present year1 says ,butler1 will retain their vigour and youthful appearance till 7,gemini71 about the #bast of ,may in the following year1 when they begin to decline1 and from 7,cancer to ,leo7 ,june #bast to ,august #bast1 the ground in front of the apiary may be seen strewed with them1 some dead1 some dying1 and a few alive but incapable of rising again1 and by 7,libra7 #cb;d ,september1 scarcely an old bee will be left4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,senses ,,of ,,bees4 ,in considering the phnomena of insect sensation1 little advantage can be derived from analogy2 the physiology of the senses of bees1 and other insects1 is therefore but imperfectly understood4 ,still they must have credit for the possession of senses1 however differently modified from those of man4 ,some of their senses may open avenues to knowledge1 with which he must ever remain unacquainted4 ,arts which he is obliged to attain by long labour and great diligence1 they seem to derive from nature1 through the medium no doubt of organs so exquisitely fine1 as to elude not only his search1 but even his conception4 ,of all the senses of bees1 none appears to be so acute1 as that of ,smell4 ,it is this which1 in all probability1 enables them to distinguish1 not only individuals of their own species1 but one human being from another2 and also to discover honey-dews and honey-bearing flowers1 at a very considerable distance2 7honey of all odorous substances1 being the most attractive to them37 it may tend likewise to cause that neatness which they observe in themselves and in their habitations4 ,an experiment1 made by ,huber1 demonstrates that they possess the faculty of smell4 ,he placed vessels of honey in boxes perforated with very small holes1 to allow the odorous effluvia to escape1 but not of sufficient size to permit a sight of the honey1 when the bees came directly to the boxes4 ,he also tried this experiment with the addition of small card valves1 which the bees1 after examining the boxes all round1 contrived to raise up1 that they might get at the honey4 ,mr4 ,hunter states1 that he has seen great commotion produced in a recent swarm in wet weather1 when he supposes the bees to have been hungry1 by placing honey on the floor of the hive4 ,it was a glass-hive1 which afforded him a good opportunity of observing their proceedings1 and he says that all of them appeared to be upon the scent3 even those that were weak and hardly able to crawl1 threw out the proboscis as far as possible1 to get at the honey1 which he thinks must have arisen from their smelling and not from their seeing it4 ,this presumed nicety of their smell should induce a carefulness that no offensive odours be near an apiary4 ,the notorious frequenting1 by bees1 of the depositories of urine and the dung of animals1 might seem to render such carefulness futile3 but upon this subject ,i have written in a former chapter1 and have since had the pleasure of seeing my opinion confirmed by that of ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence4--,bees appear to have an antipathy to particular individuals4 ,their aversion1 in all probability1 arises from the persons disliked having some peculiar odour about them1 which though not unpleasant to man1 may be so to bees4 ,whatever the odour1 it seems to be transmitted by the breath3 ,huber was of this opinion4 ,speaking of the impunity with which his assistant ,francis ,burnens performed his various operations upon bees1 he observes that the gentleness of his motions1 and the habit of repressing his respiration1 could alone preserve him from the wrath of such formidable insects4 ,the different reception which persons experience on approaching the domicile of bees is attributed by some apiarians to the different degrees of confidence manifested in the approach3 they are of opinion1 that if visitors could avoid the exhibition of all apprehension1 they would not be attacked4 ,my own experience has long convinced me of the erroneousness of this opinion3 and a circumstance which occurred to ,monsieur de ,hofer1 ,conseilleur d'etat du ,grand ,duc de ,baden1 strengthens my dissent from it4 ,he had for years been a proprietor and an admirer of bees1 and almost rivalled ,wildman in the power he possessed of approaching them with impunity3 he would at any time search for the queen1 and taking hold of her gently1 place her upon his hand4 ,but having been unfortunately attacked with a violent fever1 and long confined by it2 on his recovery he attempted to resume his favourite amusement among the bees1 returning to them with all that confidence and pleasure which he had felt on former occasions2 when to his great surprise and disappointment he discovered that he was no longer in possession of their favour2 and that instead of being received by them as an old friend1 he was treated as a trespasser3 nor was he ever able1 after this period1 to perform any operation upon them1 or to approach within their precincts1 without exciting their anger4 ,here then it is pretty evident that some change had taken place in the ,counsellor's secretions1 in consequence of the fever1 which though not noticeable by his friends1 was offensive to the olfactory nerves of the bees4 ,i had this anecdote from ,monsieur de ,hofer's son1 with whom ,i passed a very agreeable evening in ,london at the house of my friend ,joseph ,hodgetts1 ,esq4 ,the extreme sensitiveness of smell in bees is evinced by their promptitude in resenting an injury inflicted on any of their community4 ,in hiving1 or performing any other operation upon them1 great caution should therefore be observed1 lest any of them be trodden upon or crushed to death4 ,it may be thought that this promptitude to resent the injury ,i have here mentioned1 may not proceed from the acuteness of their smell1 but from an effect produced upon some other organ of sense4 ,i infer that it proceeds from the former1 on account of their being so quickly roused to anger from a state of tranquillity1 by having a fresh envenomed sting and its appendages presented before the entrance of their dwelling4 ,this experiment1 of presenting fresh poison to the bees1 was tried by ,huber in such a variety of ways1 as to prove beyond all doubt that it was the penetrating odour of the poison only1 and not the manner of presenting it1 that affected them2 for when the poison had coagulated1 the same mode of presentation produced no sensible effect1 it might be offered them with perfect impunity4 ,butterflies and ,moths are supposed to be directed by this sense to the discovery of their mates4 ,if the female of the eggar moth 7,phalna quercus7 be inclosed in a box1 and placed in the neighbourhood of the males1 they are attracted to the spot in such numbers as to show clearly that they are sensible of her presence4 ,we have analogous instances of the existence of this faculty in other insects4 ,the flesh-fly 7,musca vomitoria7 occasionally deposits its eggs on plants of the ,stapelia genus1 no doubt from their odour resembling that of putrefying flesh4 ,this may be regarded by some as an evidence of mistaken instinct2 but from what ,i have said in the chapter on ,instinct1 ,i think that my readers will consider this to be erroneous1 and that it should rather be regarded as affording presumptive evidence of mistaken judgement4 ,instinct would direct the creature to deposit its eggs where the larv when hatched would be furnished with the means of subsistence1 instead of thus exposing them to perish4 ,at all events it affords tolerably good evidence of the existence of an organ of smell in the insect4 ,the sense of ,touch in bees1 that is their active or exploring touch1 seems to be very acute4 ,to the nicety of this sense has been attributed their power of commencing and carrying on their works amid the darkness of the hives4 ,the recognition of their queen evinces the existence of some such sense2 for the experiments related at page #bib1 indicate that her presence is not ascertained either by the organs of sight1 hearing1 or smell4 ,the ,antenn have generally been considered as their organs of touch2 and indeed1 in popular language1 they are usually called ,feelers or horns2 they have likewise assigned to them the office of wiping and cleaning the eyes4 ,the antenn1 however1 are not regarded as feelers by our leading entomologists3 at present their uses are not clearly defined4 ,some have regarded them as organs of smell2 others as organs of hearing2 a third party have conceived that they perform some function of which man has no definite idea1--supplying the insect with a sixth sense1 an intermediate faculty1 according to ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence1 between hearing and touch1 rendering it sensible of the slightest movement of the circumambient air4 ,dr4 ,evans designates the antenn as their sight-supplying sense2 ,the same keen horns1 within the dark abode4 ,trace1 for the sightless throng1 a ready road1 ,while all the mazy threads of touch convey1 ,shot inward to the mind1 a semblant day4 ,evans4 ,the antenn1 of which there are only a single pair1 proceed from the anterior part of the head before the eyes4 ,the ,palpi are generally considered as the true feelers2 which1 as well from their texture as from the manner in which insects apply them to their food before they begin to eat it1 seems probable3 ,cuvier and ,lehmann were of this opinion4 ,the palpi are attached to the under jaws and lips1 and are four in number4 ,in some respects they bear analogy to the antenn2 but the latter1 being more articulated1 have an extended power of motion4 ,some insects with small antenn are observed to have very large palpi1 which gives reason to suppose1 that although their offices may be different1 they are intended to assist each other4 ,the antenn appear to be the more important organs of the two2 as the palpi1 when removed1 have not been found to occasion much apparent inconvenience2 whilst from the experiments of ,huber and others1 it appears that the excision of the antenna deprives the insect of the perfect exercise of its functions4 ,it seems immediately to lose its instincts4 ,the amputation of one antenna produces no effect2 but if both be cut off near the root1 the bee no longer possesses the power of guiding itself2 it cannot direct its tongue to receive food from its companions1 nor take any share in the operations of the family2 but exhibits perfect indifference1 and keeps near the entrance1 apparently for the sake of light2 when that is withdrawn1 it soon leaves the hive to return no more4 ,their departure1 says ,huber1 must be ascribed to the loss of that sense1 which is employed to guide them in the dark4 ,that bees possess a fine sense of ,taste1 may be readily conceived from the delicious food which they collect1 and from their having a preference for those flowers that afford the best honey1 whenever such flowers grow abundantly in the neighbourhood of the hives4 ,hence the superiority of the honey of ,narbonne1 ,hymettus1 and ,pontus4 ,huber regards ,taste as the least perfect of the senses of bees1 but the reasons he gives for this opinion are unsatisfactory4 ,indeed the tongue of the bee is an organ so considerably developed1 as to afford very strong evidence of its power of discrimination in the selection of food4 ,cuvier considers it to be one of the primary functions of its organization4 ,there is tolerably good presumptive evidence that bees have a quick sense of ,hearing1 from their being so sensibly affected by different sounds4 ,the voice of the queen1 for instance1 has according to ,bonner and ,huber an almost magical effect upon them2 and the practice of making some sort of noise at the time of hiving is founded upon this opinion4 ,huber is of opinion that if bees do possess the sense of hearing it is differently modified from the same sense among beings of a higher order4 ,the consequences which ensue upon the production of certain sounds either by themselves or others1 show that the vibrations of the air make an impression upon some sense3 ,huber1 for reasons which he does not well define1 designates it as a sense analogous to hearing1 a something acting in concert with and in aid of the antenn4 ,linnus and ,bonnet thought that insects do not possess the sense of hearing2 but ,i think they were mistaken4 ,i have just stated the effect produced by the voice of a queen-bee1 under particular circumstances2 and there are other evidences1 equally strong1 to show that insects possess this faculty4 ,one grasshopper will chirp in response to another1 and the female be attracted by the voice of the male4 ,brunelli shut up a male in a box1 and allowed the female her liberty3 as soon as the male chirped she flew to him immediately4 ,for further evidence of the existence of this faculty in insects1 see page #bfb4 7,organs of ,sensation47 ,the ,eye-,sight of bees1 notwithstanding the wonderful mechanism of their eyes1 seems less perfect than their other senses3 on some occasions it scarcely serves them to distinguish the entrance of their hives1 when they come home loaded with provision4 ,wildman says that he has observed them go up and down1 seeking the door of the hive1 and be obliged after alighting to rise again in order to find it3 he conceived that they see better when flying than when on foot4 ,i believe1 however1 that this opinion of ,wildman will not1 upon examination1 be found quite correct4 ,the mere act of flying does not enable them to see objects better2 but when on the wing1 they are at a greater distance from those objects1 the eyes of these insects being so constructed as to enable them to see best at a moderate distance4 ,as ,dr4 ,evans has justly remarked1 therefore1 the poet's disdainful allusion to a ,fly whose feeble ray scarce spreads ,an inch around---- should here be exactly reversed4 ,dr4 ,derham in his ,physico-theology has observed1 when speaking of the eye of the bee and other insects1 that the cornea and optic nerves1 being always at one and the same distance1 are fitted only to see distantial objects1 but not such as are very nigh4 ,this visual orb1 this seemingly simple speck1 though really complicated piece of mechanism1 says ,derham1 will be found upon examination to form a curious lattice-work of several thousand hexagonal lenses1 each having a separate optic nerve ministering to it1 and therefore to be considered as a distinct eye,t4 ,m4 ,leewenhoeck1 having properly prepared and placed an eye of this kind betwixt his microscope and a church steeple 7#bii feet high and #gej distant71 saw plainly the steeple inverted1 through every different lens1 though each lens was not larger than a needle's point4 ,yet1 doubtless the insect perceives but a single object1 and that in an upright position4 ,the hemispheric arrangement of these lenses enables the bee to see accurately in every direction1 and without any interval of time or trouble4 ,footnote ,t3 ,the multitude of hexagonal lenses which compose the eye of a bee1 make it appear1 when viewed through a microscope1 exactly like honey-comb4 ,not huge ,behemoth1 not the ,whale's vast form4 ,that spouts a torrent1 and that breathes a storm4 ,transcends in organs apt this puny fly1 ,her fine-strung feelers1 and her glanceful eye1 ,set with ten thousand lenses4 ,evans4 ,the eyes of all insects are immoveable1 and have neither iris nor pupil nor eyelids to cover them3 but this apparent defect is amply made up to them in a variety of ways3 in the case before us1 by the complex structure of the organs4 ,reaumur performed an experiment similar to that which ,i have just related of ,leewenhoeck1 and with a like result1 ,hooke computed the lenses in the eye of a horse-fly to amount to nearly #gjjj4 ,leewenhoeck found more than #ab1jjj in that of a dragon-fly2 and #ag1cbe have been counted in the eye of a butterfly4 ,the lenses are most numerous in the beetle1 and so small as not to be easily discoverable under a pocket microscope1 except the eye be turned white by long keeping4 ,the peculiar construction of the bee's eye1 for seeing objects best at a moderate distance1 will account for the circumstance noticed by ,wildman1 and also for the following observation of ,dr4 ,evans4 ,we frequently observe bees flying straight homewards through the trackless air1 as if in full view of the hive1 then running their heads against it1 and seeming to feel their way to the door with their antenn1 as if totally blind4 ,sir ,c4 ,s4 ,mackenzie remarked the imperfect vision of bees1 and how very much puzzled they are to find the entrances to their hives1 if the relative position of the entrances be altered1 or the hives be removed two or three yards from the place where they have usually stood4 ,in cases of removal1 the bees do not during the first day fly to a distance1 nor till they have visited and recognized neighbouring objects4 ,mr4 ,rogers1 in his ,pleasures of ,memory1 has noticed this defective vision in the bee4 ,having spoken of her excursive flights to a distance1 and referred to her bending her course homewards again1 he observes1 ,that eye so finely wrought4 ,beyond the search of sense1 the soar of thought4 ,now vainly asks the scenes she left behind2 ,its orb so full1 its vision so confined6 ,and he concludes that it is by the aid of memory that she retraces her passage back to the hive1 by recognizing the scents of the various flowers which she has passed or visited on her outward journey1-- ,the varied scents that charm'd her as she flew4 ,but this idea1 as ,messrs4 ,kirby and ,spence have observed1 is more poetical than accurate1 the bees being always accustomed to fly to their hives in right lines4 ,in consequence of this peculiarity of insect vision1 many of those bees that return homewards after dusk in the evening1 are obliged to lie abroad all night4 ,the same peculiarity1 added to the acuteness of their smell1 has given birth to various contrivances for inducing bees of different hives to mingle peaceably together1 as mentioned at page #aed4 ,from the experiments of ,swammerdam1 ,reaumur1 ,hooke and others1 it seems that bees and other insects1 particularly those of the hymenopterous order1 possess organs of vision1 besides those which are properly called their eyes4 ,these organs1 known by the name of ,stemmata1 are three smooth1 glossy1 hemispherical dots1 placed in a triangular position upon the vertex or top of the head4 ,the two reticular eyes of one of these insects having been covered with fluid pitch1 7the stemmata being left open17 when placed under a glass1 the insect ran up and down1 but without striking against the sides of the glass4 ,in a similar experiment upon a dragon-fly 7,libellula71 the insect flew away1 but in its flight struck against walls and other objects4 ,the stemmata in another insect being covered1 and the reticular eyes left open1 seemed to cause no impediment to its usual proceedings1 it appeared to see as well as before4 ,but when both the stemmata and the eyes were covered1 the insect seemed to be totally deprived of sight1 it walked slowly under the glass1 and when allowed its liberty1 would not venture to fly4 ,these experiments being tried upon bees by ,reaumur1 they remained immoveable1 appearing uncertain where to direct their flight3 when their eyes only were covered1 they flew perpendicularly upwards till they were out of sight1 seeming to follow that direction which the aid of the stemmata afforded them4 ,these stemmata may1 from their situation1 assist the insect in performing its various operations in the interior of the hive2 may1 as ,reaumur has observed1 answer to them the purpose of microscopes4 ,i cannot conclude this chapter on the ,senses of ,bees without noticing the theory of that eminent physiologist ,dr4 ,virey4 ,he has given it as his opinion1 that there are seven senses1 which he thus divides4 ,four physical1 namely1 ,touch1 ,taste1 ,smell1 and ,love2 three intellectual1 namely4 ,hearing1 ,sight1 and ,thought4 7,n4 ,dict4 d',hist4 ,nat47 ,whether ,love and ,thought should be added to my enumeration of the senses of bees ,i shall not now inquire3 if they may be1 this work will supply abundant evidence of both1 if we comprehend the whole community of bees2 for though physical love appears not to constitute any part of the pleasure of the working bee1 7except from some accidental cause which has been already explained17 there is presumptive proof of its possessing thought or intellect3 and although it may not be easy to adduce testimony in favour of the queen's or the drone's possessing thought1 they both satisfactorily evince a susceptibility of physical love4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,,instincts ,,of ,,bees4 ,all creatures1 of whatever size1 that live together in large communities1 have long been observed to display more knowledge and ingenuity than those that do not congregate3 this superiority is also supposed to distinguish those which possess the most exquisite sense of touch1 and whose occupations require a continued exertion of their powers4 ,the insect tribe strongly confirm the truth of these remarks4 ,solitary insects may exhibit a single trait of superiority1 either in the catching of their prey1 as the spider does2 or in the securing of a well protected habitation1 as is instanced by the carpenter bee1 the mason bee1 and some other lone and non-associating insects3 but the history of those which unite in societies unfolds more of insect energy and talent4 ,in large communities a combination of exertions is requisite1 to procure supplies for the general weal2 an intercourse of mutual intelligence is kept up2 labour is regularly divided2 the sphere of action is extended2 and in cases of emergency1 there is an unusual manifestation of insect power and intelligence4 ,instances of all these faculties are eminently conspicuous in the honey-bee2--some of them ,i have before noticed1 and shall now advert to a few more4 ,the mental powers of bees1 if ,i may be allowed to use the term1 have been included1 by some writers under the general name of ,instinct,u2 others1 considering the whole of their proceedings to be fraught with intelligence1 have regarded them as evidences of a reasoning power4 ,all the phnomena of insect life cannot ,i presume be explained without giving them credit for both4 ,footnote ,u3 ,huber has observed that the instinct of the humble-bee is still more refined than that of the honey-bee4 ,as an instance of this1 he states that the former when unable to penetrate a flower through its natural cavity1 makes an aperture at the base of the corolla1 or even of the calyx1 and insinuates its proboscis into the reservoir of honey1 through the opening it has made4 ,deem not1 vain mortal1 that reserv'd for thee ,hangs all the ripening fruit on reason's tree2 ,even these1 the tiniest tenants of thy care1 ,claim of that reason1 their apportion'd share3 ,witness yon slaughter'd snail1 within their door1 ,tomb'd like the first bold ,greek on ,ilion's shore4 ,evans4 ,a snail having crept into one of ,m4 ,reaumur's hives early in the morning1 after crawling about for some time1 adhered by means of its own slime to one of the glass panes1 where1 but for the bees1 it would probably have remained1 till either a moist air or its own spume had loosened the adhesion4 ,the bees having discovered the snail1 immediately surrounded it1 and formed a border of propolis round the verge of its shell1 which was1 at last1 so securely fixed to the glass1 as to become immoveable1 either by the moisture of the air from without1 or by the snail's secretion from within4 ,nor aught avails that in his torpid veins1 ,year after year1 life's loitering spark remains,v3 ,for ever clos'd the impenetrable door1 ,he sinks on death's cold arm to rise no more4 ,evans4 ,footnote ,v3 ,in the ,annual ,register for #agge some very extraordinary instances are related of the protraction of life in snails4 ,after they had lain in a cabinet above fifteen years1 immersing them in water caused them to revive and crawl out of their shells4 ,maraldi has related a somewhat similar instance4 ,a houseless snail or slug1 as it is called1 had entered one of his hives3 the bees1 as soon as they observed it1 pierced it with their stings1 till it expired beneath their repeated strokes2 after which1 being unable to dislodge it1 they covered it all over with propolis4 ,for1 soon in fearless ire1 their wonder lost4 ,spring fiercely from the comb th' indignant host4 ,lay the pierc'd monster breathless on the ground1 ,and clap1 in joy1 their victor pinions round4 ,while all in vain concurrent numbers strive1 ,to heave the slime-girt giant from the hive1-- ,sure not alone by force instinctive sway'd1 ,but blest with reason's soul-directing aid1 ,alike in man or bee1 they haste to pour1 ,thick hardening as it falls1 the flaky shower2 ,embalm'd in shroud of glue the mummy lies1 ,no worms invade1 no foul miasmas rise4 ,evans4 ,in these two cases1 who can withhold his admiration of the ingenuity and judgement of the bees8 ,in the first case1 a troublesome creature gained admission into the hive1 which1 from its unwieldiness1 they could not remove1 and which1 from the impenetrability of its shell1 they could not destroy3 here then their only resource was to deprive it of loco-motion1 and to obviate putrefaction2 both which objects they accomplished most skilfully and securely1--and1 as is usual with these sagacious creatures1 at the least possible expense of labour and materials4 ,they applied their cement1 where alone it was required1 namely1 round the verge of the shell4 ,in the latter case1 to obviate the evil of putrescence1 by the total exclusion of air1 they were obliged to be more lavish in the use of their embalming material1 and to form with it so complete an incrustation or case over the slime-girt giant1 as to guard them from the consequences which the atmosphere invariably produces upon all animal substances1 that are exposed to its action after life has become extinct4 ,may it not be asked1 ,what means more effectual could human wisdom have devised1 under similar circumstances8 ,indeed1 many of the proceedings of bees and other associated insects seem traceable to a reasoning power2 for they exhibit an adaptation of means to ends1 and vary them to suit particular emergencies1--the judicious performance of actions with a view to some proposed end1 is the criterion by which we judge of rationality4 ,on the other hand1 the difficulty of ascribing some of their actions to any other principle than that which is known by the name of ,instinct1 has led to a classification of the whole of their proceedings under that head4 ,instinct is a faculty the exercise of which implies an exquisitely fine mechanism of some of the senses4 ,it appears to operate independently of all anticipation of consequences2 the avenues to knowledge are1 to be sure1 less circuitous in these and other animals than in man1 neither experience nor inductive reasoning seem to be at all essential to the perfection of their operations2 they may be said to have1 what many an indolent human being has wished to find1--a royal road to knowledge4 ,if in the ,insect1 ,reason's twilight ray ,sheds on the darkling mind a doubtful day4 ,plain is the steady light her ,instincts yield4 ,to point the road o'er life's unvaried field2 ,if few those ,instincts1 to the destin'd goal1 ,with surer course1 their straiten'd currents roll4 ,evans4 ,one writer1 and that a very ingenious one1 has endeavoured to resolve all instincts into reason1 and has boldly hazarded the following conjecture4 ,if we were better acquainted with the histories of those insects that are formed into societies1--as the bees1 wasps and ants1--we should find that their arts and improvements are not so similar and uniform as they now appear to us1 but that they arose in the same manner 7from experience and tradition7 as the arts of our own species2 though their reasoning is from few ideas1 is busied about fewer objects1 and is exerted with less energy,w4 ,footnote ,w3 ,darwin4 ,since the ,doctor wrote this passage1 much light has been thrown upon those very subjects on which he laments our defective knowledge3 but whilst it strengthens what ,i have said as to the possession of reason by insects1 it confirms my observations respecting their instinctive powers4 ,there are facts recorded1 in ,huber's researches respecting ants1 which exhibit in some at least of those insects1 7the ,amazons17 a power of acquiring habits and characters which cannot well be regarded as merely instinctive4 ,the ,amazons take advantage of an improvement in their condition1 and avail themselves of that strength1 which sometimes accrues to them1 in consequence of a large accession to their numbers4 ,to relieve themselves from labour1 they enslave1 by a coup de main1 a feeble colony of ants of another species1 and transporting it to their own domicile1 impose upon the captives the task of collecting provision1 rearing the young1 repairing the formicary1 c4 c4 ,the ,amazons become a complete aristocracy1 and like ladies and gentlemen1 have servants to wait upon them4 ,i shall not attempt to determine the point where intellect begins to dawn1 nor to assign the boundary where instinct assumes the characteristics of reason4 ,for it is no where more difficult to discriminate between the regular operation of implanted motives1 and the result of acquired knowledge and habits1 than in studying the phnomena presented by the bee4 ,for the present therefore ,i must be allowed to regard the provinces of reason and instinct as undefinable2 indeed it seems highly probable that our limited faculties may never enable us to acquire a knowledge of them4 ,still the facts which ,i have related1 and those which ,i shall proceed to detail1 afford such apparently strong evidences of a reasoning faculty1 that without introducing that faculty as their source1 ,i shall be at a loss to explain the phnomena4 ,dr4 ,darwin in his ,zoonomia1 relates an anecdote of apparent ratiocination in a wasp1 which had caught a fly nearly as large as itself4 ,kneeling down1 the ,doctor saw the wasp dissever the head and tail from the trunk of the fly1 and attempt to soar with the latter3 but finding when about two feet from the ground that the wings of the fly carried too much sail1 and caused its prize and itself to be whirled about1 by a little breeze that had arisen1 it dropped upon the ground with its prey1 and deliberately sawed off with its mandibles1 first one wing and then the other3 having thus removed these impediments to its progress1 the wasp flew away with its booty1 and experienced no further molestation from the wind4 ,some of the proceedings of bees in glass hives cannot be referred to their instinctive faculties1--glass being a substance which would never be presented to them in their natural state4 ,having frequently observed1 says ,dr4 ,evans1 on the inside of my glass hives1 prior to the formation of cells1 a number of gluey spots ranged at regular distances1 ,i supposed them at first to be intended as a kind of land-marks1 pointing out the divisions of the future streets1 c4 ,on re-examination1 however1 ,i found them evidently used as so many footstools on the slippery glass1 each bee resting on one of these with its middle pair of legs1 while the fore-claws were hooked with the hind ones of the next above2 thus forming a living ladder1 by which the workers were enabled to reach the top1 and pursue their favourite plan of commencing their combs there4 ,a very striking illustration of the reasoning power of bees occurred to my friend ,mr4 ,walond4 ,inspecting his bee-boxes at the end of ,october #ahag1 he perceived that a centre comb1 burthened with honey1 had separated from its attachments1 and was leaning against another comb1 so as to prevent the passage of the bees between them4 ,this accident excited great activity in the colony1 but its nature could not be ascertained at the time4 ,at the end of a week1 the weather being cold and the bees clustered together1 ,mr4 ,w4 observed1 through the window of the box1 that they had constructed two horizontal pillars betwixt the combs alluded to1 and had removed so much of the honey and wax from the top of each1 as to allow the passage of a bee3 in about ten days more there was an uninterrupted thoroughfare2 the detached comb at its upper part had been secured by a strong barrier and fastened to the window with the spare wax4 ,this being accomplished1 the bees removed the horizontal pillars first constructed1 as being of no further use4 ,during this laborious process1 says ,mr4 ,w4 the glass window in the box was as warm as ,i had felt it during any part of the summer1 and the bees were as active within the box4 ,m4 ,p4 ,huber of ,lausanne1 in his ,observations on ,humble-bees1 published in the sixth volume of the ,linnan ,transactions1 has given a curious detail of some experiments in which the bees conducted themselves somewhat similarly to those of ,mr4 ,walond4 ,having inclosed twelve humble-bees in a bell-glass1 upon a table1 he gave them a part of their cones or chrysalids1 containing about ten silken cocoons1 and freeing the latter as much as possible from wax1 he fed the bees for some days with pollen only4 ,the cells containing the cones being very unequal1 the mass was so unsteady as extremely to disquiet the bees4 ,their affection for their young led them to mount upon the cocoons1 to impart warmth to the inclosed larv3 they could not do this without causing the comb to totter or lean on one side1 and having no wax for fastening the work to the table1 they had recourse to the following ingenious expedient4 ,two or three bees got upon the comb1 and descending to the lower edge of it1 with their heads downwards1 hung from it by the hooks of their hind feet1 and clung to the table by those of the second pair1 which are very long2 thus did they keep this piece of cell-work steady by their own muscular strength4 ,when fatigued by this constrained and irksome position1 they were relieved by their comrades2 even the queen assisted4 ,having kept the bees in this state till nearly the end of the third day1 and shown them to several persons1 ,huber introduced some honey1 to enable them to form wax3 they soon constructed pillars1 extending from the most projecting parts of the cell-work to the table1 and kept the cell-work in a firm position4 ,the wax1 however1 getting gradually dry1 the pillars gave way2 when the poor insects adopted their former straining expedient for steadying the comb1 and continued1 perseveringly1 to sustain it in this manner1 till ,huber took pity on them and glued the cake of comb firmly to the table4 ,could the most intelligent architect have more judiciously propped a tottering edifice1 till adequate supports could be applied8 ,the resources of bees1 when attacked by the ,sphinx ,atropos or ,death's-head ,hawk-moth are much in point4 ,in this case1 according to ,huber1 they construct small archways and various other ingenious barricadoes1 with a mixture of wax and propolis1 so as just to allow the egress and ingress of one or two workers1 and effectually to exclude their marauding enemy4 ,the bees do not1 as if guided by mere instinct1 commence their fortifications on the first attack of the ,sphinx1 nor until they have been robbed of nearly their whole stock of honey4 ,this therefore seems to be a case in which reason is taught by experience1 and which admits in all its particulars of a direct comparison with human reason and human contrivance4 ,moreover1 on the cessation of danger1 and when honey-flowers were abundant1 the colony prosperous and swarms prepared to issue1 these sagacious engineers demolished the fortifications1 in order to give room for the exit and entrance of the bees4 ,a colony that had been thus attacked in #ahjd1 and was tardy in its defensive preparations1 having derived instruction from the past1 constructed fresh ramparts speedily1 on the reappearance of the ,sphinx in #ahjg1 and thus guarded itself from impending danger4 ,from what has been said in page #bif1 it seems probable that the lives of the working bees do not extend beyond a year1 at the utmost3 if therefore my inference be legitimate1 the information of the colony of #ahjg must have been traditional1 or else derived from a queen which had reigned over them from #ahjd4 ,on the subject of traditional information1 see ,memory of ,bees4 ,it is further remarkable1 as a confirmation of this process of ratiocination and reflection1 that if the apiarian apply proper guards before the entrances to the hives1 when the ,sphinx makes its appearance1 the bees1 finding that they are anticipated1 devise no measures of security4 ,i shall adduce another instance in support of my position that insects are endowed with reason1 and that they mutually communicate and receive information4 ,a ,german artist of strict veracity1 states1 that in his journey through ,italy1 he was an eye-witness to the following occurrence4 ,he observed a species of ,scarabus busily engaged1 in making for the reception of its egg a pellet of dung1 which when finished1 the insect rolled to the summit of a hillock1 and repeatedly suffered it to tumble down the slope1 apparently for the purpose of consolidating the pellet by the adhesion of earth to it in its rotating motion4 ,during this process1 the pellet unluckily fell into a hole1 out of which the beetle was unable to extricate it4 ,after several ineffectual attempts1 the insect went to an adjoining heap of dung1 and soon returned with three companions4 ,all four applied their united strength to the pellet1 and at length succeeded in pushing it out1 when the three assistant beetles left the spot1 and returned to their own quarters,x4 ,footnote ,x3 ,kirby and ,spence1 vol4 ii4 p4 #ebb4 ,mr4 ,hunter speaks rather sarcastically1 upon the subject of reason being one of the attributes of insects4 ,reason1 says he1 has been ascribed to bees2 they have been supposed to be legislators1 and even mathematicians2 and though there is some show of reason for these suppositions1 there is much more of imagination4 ,to show how far the excursive fancy of apiarians had sometimes carried them1 ,mr4 ,h4 selected a very unfortunate instance1 namely1 the assertion1 as he calls it1 that workers' eggs may be converted into queens1--a fact which has since been established by a series of the most satisfactory experiments4 ,dr4 ,virey1 in his ,nouvelle ,dictionnaire d',histoire ,naturelle1 denies that insects possess any portion of intellect1 and attributes all their operations to mere instinct1 which he considers as the result of pure mechanism1 depending upon the construction of their nervous systems1 in the same manner as the tune played upon a barrel organ1 is dependent on the notes which the cylinder successively presents to its keys4 ,des ,cartes1 and others before him1 held a similar opinion1 considering insects as being simply susceptible of external impressions1 and through the medium of that susceptibility stimulated to act4 ,if this doctrine be correct1 instinct is possessed alike by animals and vegetables2 in short by every thing that has life1 the difference being not in quality1 but in quantity4 ,buffon attempted to explain the phnomena of insect life by the simple laws of mechanism1 conceding to the insects at the same time a power of distinguishing and choosing between pleasure and pain4 ,some have even ventured to assert that the invariable exactness of the cell-work of bees is a proof of their stupidity1 and that the wonders of the honey'd reign1 no more bespeak the agency of mind or intellect1 than the configuration of salts into their respective crystals4 ,shall then proud sophists arrogant and vain4 ,spurn all the wonders of the honey'd reign4 ,and bid alike one mindless influence own ,the social bee1 and crystallizing stone8 ,each link they trace in animation's round1 ,dashes their poison'd chalice to the ground4 ,evans4 ,if this theory respecting insects were just1 it should elucidate all the phenomena which it undertakes to explain1 otherwise it is injurious to science4 ,examination will prove it to be a mere hypothetical opinion1 ingenious1 and at first sight plausible1 but completely unsatisfactory4 ,this theory is the natural consequence of denying to insects any portion of intellect1 and its erroneousness is shown by their capability of instruction4 ,instinct itself cannot be a purely mechanical process1 or it would be incapable of modification1 and would1 under like circumstances1 always act in the same manner4 ,sir ,joseph ,banks's spider that1 on being crippled1 changed from a sedentary web-weaver to a hunter1 is an instance of modified instinct,y4 ,the well known fact that birds build their nests differently1 where climate and other circumstances require a variation1 is another instance4 ,a dog may be restrained from obeying its instincts1 by the intimidating recollection of a beating which it had formerly received2 a bee1 if alarmed1 will quit the nectary of a flower3--here the intellect of the creatures counteracts their instincts4 ,there are other instances in which the intellect appears to direct the instincts4 ,when the bee makes excursive flights in quest of pasture1 its senses serve to guide it1 and enable it1 by the aid of memory1 to retrace its passage home again4 ,at the conclusion of its outward and homeward journeys1 its instincts immediately begin to operate2 in the one case1 teaching it to imbibe nectar1 collect pollen1 c42 in the other1 to store and apply those materials to their respective uses4 ,footnote ,y3 ,the account of this spider was sent to ,dr4 ,leach by ,sir ,joseph ,banks4 ,an interesting history of it is given in the ,linnan ,transactions1 vol4 ii4 page #cic4 ,it had lost five of its legs1 which were afterwards reproduced1 but the new legs were shorter than those for which they were substituted4 ,m4 ,reimar has denied that the lower animals possess memory1 properly so called2 and has given it as his opinion1 that they are only influenced by past events1 in consequence of having present objects before them1--never by reflection or knowledge of the past1 as being past4 ,but that1 with them1 a former impression may be renewed1 without being recollected2 that it is thus rendered present to the imagination1 but has no place in the memory4 ,for arguments and instances in support of their being endowed with memory1 see page #bfj4 7,organs of ,sensation47 ,the possession of the organs of sense implies the possession of some portion of intellect1 for without intellect those organs would seem incapable of being employed to the greatest advantage4 ,there is this difference1 says ,mr4 ,spence1 between intellect in man1 and the rest of the animal creation4 ,their intellect teaches them to follow the lead of their senses1 and to make such use of the external world as their appetites or instincts incline them to1--and this is their wisdom3 while the intellect of man1 being associated with an immortal principle1 and connected with a world above that which his senses reveal to him1 can1 by aid derived from heaven1 control those senses1 and render them obedient to the governing power of his nature2 and this is his wisdom4 ,a distinction has been made1 and very properly1 between wisdom and knowledge4 ,the former alone can be possessed by the lower animals1 man can possess both4 ,the distinction between them has been very accurately marked by ,cowper1 though in making it he has confined himself to man only4 ,knowledge and wisdom1 far from being one1 ,have oft times no connection4 ,knowledge dwells ,in heads replete with thoughts of other men1 ,wisdom in minds attentive to their own4 ,it will1 ,i think1 be evident to my readers1 from the general tenour of this chapter1 that though ,i make a distinction between the instinct and the reason of bees1 ,i do not confound their reason with the reason of man4 ,but to obviate all possibility of misconception1 ,i will at once define my meaning1 when ,i use the terms insect reason and instinct4 ,by reason1 ,i mean the power of making deductions from previous experience or observation1 and1 thereby of adapting means to ends4 ,instinct ,i regard as a disposition and power to perform certain actions in the same uniform manner1 without reference either to observation or experience4 ,those who have attended to this subject1 will be aware that insect reason as above defined1 is more restricted in its functions than the reason of man2 to which is superadded the power of distinguishing between the true and the false1 and1 according to some metaphysicians1 between right and wrong4 ,reason1 in man1 has a regular growth1 and a slow progression2 all the arts he practises evince skill and dexterity1 proportioned to the pains which have been taken in acquiring them4 ,in the lower links of creation1 but little of this gradual improvement is observable2 their powers carry them almost directly to their object4 ,they are perfect1 as ,bacon says1 in all their members and organs from the very beginning4 ,far different ,man1 to higher fates assign'd4 ,unfolds with tardier step his ,proteus mind1 ,with numerous ,instincts fraught1 that lose their force ,like shallow streams1 divided in their course2 ,long weak1 and helpless1 on the fostering breast1 ,in fond dependence leans the infant guest4 ,till ,reason ripens what young impulse taught4 ,and builds1 on sense1 the lofty pile of thought2 ,from earth1 sea1 air1 the quick perceptions rise1 ,and swell the mental fabric to the skies4 ,evans4 ,every manufacturing art1 says ,dr4 ,reid1 was invented by some one man1 successively improved and perfected by others2 and when thus perfected1 known only by those to whom it has been taught3 while in the arts of animals no individual can claim the invention4 ,every animal of the species has equal skill from the beginning1 without teaching1 without experience1 or habit4 ,both ,instinct and ,reason1 says ,dr4 ,evans1 appear to lose their intensity1 in proportion as their rays diverge from their proper focus2 and as they are less frequently aroused to action4 ,a domesticated fowl is furnished with the same apparatus as her wild sisters on the waste1 for rendering her feathers impenetrable to water3 yet1 living principally under cover1 she secretes much less of the oily fluid1 destined for that purpose1 and makes1 when accidentally wet1 a most ridiculous appearance4 ,the force of instinctive propensities1 when directed to one object1 and uninfluenced by reason1 is strongly exemplified in the idiot bee-eater of ,selborne1 mentioned by ,mr4 ,white1 in his ,history of ,selborne4 ,the collected powers of reason1 when concentred in a single focus1 is no less finely instanced in the immortal ,newton4 ,to those readers who have not seen ,mr4 ,white's account of the bee-eater1 the following abstract of it may prove acceptable4 ,the boy was a resident in ,selborne1 about the year #agej4 ,he took great notice of bees from his childhood1 and at length used to eat them4 ,in summer1 his few faculties were devoted to the pursuit of them1 through fields and gardens4 ,during winter1 his father's chimney corner was his favourite haunt1 where he dozed away his time1 in an almost torpid state4 ,practice made him so expert1 that he could seize honey-bees1 humble-bees or wasps1 with his naked hands1 disarm them of their stings1 and suck their honey-bags1 with perfect impunity4 ,sometimes he would store the bees in bottles1 and even in his shirt bosom4 ,he was the terror of the surrounding bee-keepers1 whose gardens he would enter by stealth1 and rapping on the outsides of their hives1 catch the bees as they came out to see what was the matter4 ,if in this way he could not obtain a sufficient number to supply his wants1 so passionately fond was he of honey1 that he would sometimes overturn the hives to get at it4 ,he was accustomed to hover about the tubs of the mead-makers1 to beg a draught of bee-wine1 as he called it4 ,as he ran about the fields he made a humming noise with his lips1 resembling that of bees4 ,the lad was lean in his person1 and of a cadaverous unhealthy aspect3 he died before he reached the age of maturity4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,on ,,the ,,architecture ,,of ,,bees4 ,quel abime aux yeux du sage qu'une ruche d'abeilles8 ,quel sagesse profonde se cache dans cet abime6 ,quel philosophe osera le fonder6--,bonnet4 ,the combs of a bee-hive comprise a congeries of hexagonal cells1 formed by the bees1 as receptacles for honey or for embryo bees4 ,a honey-comb is allowed to be one of the most striking achievements of insect industry1 and an admirable specimen of insect architecture4 ,it has attracted the admiration of the contemplative philosopher in all ages1 and awakened speculation not only in the naturalist1 but also in the mathematician3 so regular1 so perfect1 is the structure of the cells1 that it satisfies every condition of a refined problem in geometry4 ,still a review of their proceedings will lead to the conclusion1 as ,huber has observed1 that the geometrical relations1 which apparently embellish the productions of bees1 are rather the necessary result of their mode of proceeding1 than the principle by which their labour is guided4 ,we must therefore conclude1 that the bees1 although they act geometrically1 understand neither the rules nor the principles of the arts which they practise so skilfully1 and that the geometry is not in the bee1 but in the great ,geometrician who made the bee1 and made all things in number1 weight and measure,z4 ,footnote ,z3 ,reid4 ,before the time of ,huber1 no naturalist had seen the commencement of the comb1 nor traced the several steps of its progress4 ,after many attempts1 he at length succeeded in attaining the desired object1 by preventing the bees from forming their usual impenetrable curtain1 by suspending themselves from the top of the hive2 in short1 he obliged them to build upwards1 and was thereby enabled1 by means of a glass window1 to watch every variation and progressive step in the construction of comb4 ,each comb in a hive is composed of two ranges of cells backed against each other3 these cells1 looking at them as a whole1 may be said to have one common base1 though no one cell is opposed directly to another4 ,this base or partition between the double row of cells is so disposed as to form a pyramidal cavity at the bottom of each1 as will be explained presently4 ,the mouths of the cells1 thus ranged on each side of a comb1 open into two parallel streets 7there being a continued series of combs in every well filled hive74 ,these streets are sufficiently contracted to avoid waste of room and to preserve a proper warmth1 yet wide enough to allow the passage of two bees abreast4 ,apertures through different parts of the combs are reserved to form near roads1 for crossing from street to street1 whereby much time is saved to the bees4 ,these in firm phalanx ply their twinkling feet1 ,stretch out the ductile mass1 and form the street1 with many a cross-way path and postern gate4 ,that shorten to their range the spreading state4 ,evans4 ,the bees1 as has been already observed1 build their cells of an hexangular form1 having six equal sides1 with the exception of the first or uppermost row1 the shape of which is an irregular pentagon1 the roof of the hive forming one of the members of the pentagon1 thus3 ,illustration ,there are only three possible figures of the cells1 says ,dr4 ,reid1 which can make them all equal and similar1 without any useless interstices4 ,these are the equilateral triangle1 the square and the regular hexagon4 ,it is well known to mathematicians that there is not a fourth way possible1 in which a plane maybe cut into little spaces that shall be equal1 similar1 and regular1 without leaving any interstices4 ,of these three geometrical figures1 the hexagon most completely unites the prime requisites for insect architecture4 ,the truth of this proposition was perceived by ,pappus1 an eminent ,greek philosopher and mathematician1 who lived at ,alexandria in the reign of ,theodosius the ,great1 and its adoption by bees in the construction of honey-comb was noticed by that ancient geometrician4 ,these requisites are2 ,first1 conomy of materials4 ,there are no useless partitions in a honey-comb1 each of the six lateral pannels of one cell forms also one of the pannels of an adjoining cell2 and of the three rhombs which form the pyramidal base of a cell1 each contributes one-third towards the formation of the bases of three opposing cells1 the bottom or centre of every cell resting against the point of union of three pannels that are at the back of it4 ,secondly1 conomy of room2 no interstices being left between adjoining cells4 ,thirdly1 ,the greatest possible capacity or internal space1 consistent with the two former desiderata4 ,fourthly1 conomy of materials and conomy of room produce conomy of labour4 ,and in addition to these advantages1 the cells are constructed in the strongest manner possible1 considering the quantity of materials employed4 ,both the sides and bases are so exquisitely thin1 that three or four placed on each other are not thicker than a leaf of common writing-paper2 each cell1 separately weak1 is strengthened by its coincidence with other cells1 and the entrance is fortified with an additional ledge or border of wax1 to prevent its bursting from the struggles of the bee-nymph1 or from the ingress and egress of the labourers4 ,this entrance border is at least three times as thick as the sides of the cell1 and thicker at the angles than elsewhere1 which prevents the mouth of the cell from being regularly hexagonal1 though the interior is perfectly so4 ,on books deep poring1 ye pale sons of toil4 ,who waste in studious trance the midnight oil1 ,say1 can ye emulate with all your rules4 ,drawn or from ,grecian or from ,gothic schools4 ,this artless frame8 ,instinct her simple guide1 ,a heaven-taught ,insect baffles all your pride4 ,not all yon marshal'd orbs1 that ride so high4 ,proclaim more loud a present ,deity1 ,than the nice symmetry of these small cells1 ,where on each angle genuine science dwells4 ,and joys to mark1 through wide creation's reign1 ,how close the lessening links of her continued chain4 ,evans4 ,i have just adverted to the ingenuity of the bees in thickening1 and thereby strengthening the mouths of the cells4 ,additional strength is also derived from the bees covering the whole surface of the combs1 but more particularly the edges of the cells1 with a peculiar kind of varnish1 which they collect for the purpose4 ,at first the combs are delicately white1 semitransparent1 and exceedingly fragile1 smooth but unpolished3 in a short time their surfaces become stronger1 and assume more or less of a yellow tint4 ,the deepening of the colour of honey-combs has been supposed1 by some1 to be the effect of age2 and in part it may be3 but it is principally owing to the coat of varnish with which the bees cover them4 ,this varnish strongly resembles propolis1 appearing to differ from it only in containing the colouring material which imparts to wax its yellow hue4 ,the source of this colouring matter has not been discovered3 it is insoluble in alcohol2 but the manufacture of white wax shows that it is destructible by light4--,but to return to the construction of the cell-work4 ,the pyramidal basis of a cell is formed by the junction of three rhomboidal or lozenge-shaped portions of wax2 thus1 ,illustration the apex of the pyramid being situated where the three obtuse angles of the lozenges meet4 ,to the exterior edges and angles are attached the six pannels or sides of each cell4 ,the apex of each pyramidal bottom1 on one side of a comb1 forms the angles of the bases of three cells on the opposite side1 the three lozenges respectively concurring in the formation of the bases of the same cells4 ,this will ,i hope explain what is meant by each cell separately weak1 being strengthened by coincidence with others4 ,the bottom of each cell rests upon three partitions of opposite cells1 from which it receives a great accession of strength4 ,as it is desirable that the reader should thoroughly comprehend this subject1 ,i will restate it in other words4--,the partition which separates the two opposing rows of cells1 and which occupies1 of course1 the middle distance between their two surfaces1 is not a plane but a collection of rhombs1 there being three at the bottom of each cell3 the three together form in shape a flattened pyramid1 the basis of which is turned towards the mouth of the cell2 each cell is in form therefore an hexagonal prism1 terminated by a flattened trihedral pyramid1 the three sides of which pyramid are rhombs1 that meet at the apex by their obtuse angles4 ,the plates underneath1 represent the opposite surfaces of the pyramidal bases of adjoining cells1 and will1 ,i trust1 enable the reader to understand the foregoing description4 ,illustration ,the union of the lozenges in one point1 in addition to the support which it is the means of affording to the three partitions between opposing cells1 is also admirably adapted to receive the little egg and to concentrate the heat necessary for its incubation4 ,each obtuse angle of the lozenges or rhombs forms an angle of about #aaj1 and each acute one1 an angle of about #gj4 ,m4 ,maraldi found by mensuration that the angles of these rhombs which compose the base of a cell1 amounted to #aji #bh and #gj #cb2 and the famous mathematician ,knig1 pupil of the celebrated ,bernouilli1 having been employed for that purpose by ,m4 ,reaumur1 has clearly shown1 by the method of infinitesimals1 that the quantity of these angles1 using the least possible wax1 in a cell of the same capacity1 should contain #aji #bf and #gj #cd4 ,this was confirmed by the celebrated ,mr4 ,mc,laurin1 who very justly observes1 that the bees do truly construct their cells of the best figure1 and with the utmost mathematical exactness4 ,the construction of several combs is generally going on at the same time4 ,no sooner is the foundation of one laid1 with a few rows of cells attached to it1 than a second and a third are founded on each side1 parallel to the first1 and so on1 7if the season give encouragement to the operations of the bees17 till the hive is filled with their works2 the first constructed comb or combs being always in the most advanced state1 and therefore the first to be completed4 ,the design of every comb is sketched out1 and the first rudiments are laid1 by one single bee4 ,this founder-bee forms a block1 out of a rough mass of wax1 drawn partly from its own resources1 but principally from those of other bees1 which furnish materials1 in quick succession1 from the receptacles under their bellies1 taking out the plates of wax with their hind feet1 and carrying them to their mouths with their fore-feet1 where the wax is moistened and masticated1 till it becomes soft and ductile4 ,thus1 filter'd through yon flutterer's folded mail1 ,clings the cool'd wax1 and hardens to a scale4 ,swift1 at the well-known call1 the ready train 7,for not a buz boon ,nature breathes in vain17 ,spring to each falling flake1 and bear along ,their glossy burdens to the builder throng4 ,evans4 ,the architect-in-chief1 who lays1 as it were1 the first stone of this and each successive edifice1 determines the relative position of the combs1 and their distances from each other3 these foundations serve as guides for the ulterior labours of the wax-working bees1 and of those which sculpture the cells1 giving them the advantage of the margin and angles already formed4 ,the expedients resorted to by that ingenious naturalist1 ,huber1 unfolded the whole process4 ,he saw each bee extract with its hind feet one of the plates of wax from under the scales where they were lodged1 and carrying it to the mouth1 in a vertical position1 turn it round2 so that every part of its border was made to pass1 in succession1 under the cutting edge of the jaws3 it was thus soon divided into very small fragments2 and a frothy liquor was poured upon it from the tongue1 so as to form a perfectly plastic mass4 ,this liquor gave the wax a whiteness and opacity which it did not possess originally1 and at the same time rendered it tenacious and ductile4 ,the issuing of this masticated mass from the mouth was1 no doubt1 what misled ,reaumur1 and caused him to regard wax as nothing more than digested pollen4 ,the mass of wax1 prepared by the assistants1 is applied by the architect-bee to the roof or bottom of the hive1 as the case may be2 and thus a block is raised of a semi-lenticular shape1 thick at top and tapering towards the edges4 ,when of sufficient size1 a cell is sculptured on one side of it1 by the wax-working bees1 who relieve one another in succession1 sometimes to the number of twenty1 before the cell is completely fashioned4 ,at the back and on each side of this first cell1 two others are sketched out and excavated4 ,by this proceeding the foundations of two cells are laid1 the line betwixt them corresponding with the centre of the opposite cell4 ,as the comb extends1 the first excavations are rendered deeper and broader2 and when a pyramidal base is finished1 the bees build up walls from its edges1 so as to complete1 what may be called1 the prismatic part of the cell4 ,every succeeding row of cells is formed by precisely similar steps1 until there is sufficient scope for the simultaneous employment of many workers4 ,these1 with sharp sickle1 or with sharper tooth1 ,pare each excrescence1 and each angle smooth1 ,till now1 in finish'd pride1 two radiant rows1 ,of snow-white cells1 one mutual base disclose4 ,six shining pannels gird each polish'd round4 ,the door's fine rim1 with waxen fillet bound1 ,while walls so thin1 with sister walls combin'd4 ,weak in themselves1 a sure dependence find4 ,evans4 ,the pyramidal bases and lateral plates are successively formed1 with surprising rapidity3 the latter are lengthened as the comb proceeds1 for the original semi-lenticular form is preserved till towards the last1 when if the hive or box be filled1 the sides of all the cells receive such additions as give them equal depth4 ,the cells intended for the drones are considerably larger1 and more substantial1 than those for the working bees1 and1 being later formed1 usually appear near the bottom of the combs4 ,last of all are built the royal cells1 the cradles of the infant queens3 of these there are usually three or four1 and sometimes ten or twelve1 in a hive1 attached commonly to the central part1 but not unfrequently to the edge or side of the comb4 ,mr4 ,hunter says that he has seen as many as thirteen royal cells in a hive1 and that they have very little wax in their composition1 not one-third1 the rest he conceives to be farina4 ,such is the genuine loyalty of bees1 that the wax which they employ with so much geometric conomy1 in the construction of hexagonal cells1 is profusely expended on the mansions of the royal bee-nymph1 one of these exceeding in weight a hundred of the former4 ,they are not interwoven with them1 but suspended perpendicularly1 their sides being nearly parallel to the mouths of the common cells1 several of which are sacrificed to support them4 ,no more with wary thriftiness imprest1 ,they grace with lavish pomp their royal guest1 ,nor heed the wasted wax1 nor rifted cell4 ,to bid1 with fretted round1 th' imperial palace swell4 ,evans4 ,the form of these royal cells is an oblong spheroid1 tapering gradually downwards1 and having the exterior full of holes1 somewhat resembling the rustic work of stone buildings4 ,the mouth of the cell1 which is always at its bottom1 remains open till the maggot is ready for transformation1 and is then closed as the others are4 ,immediately on the emergence of a ripened queen1 the lodge which she inhabited is destroyed1 and its place is supplied by a range of common cells4 ,the site of this range may always be traced1 by that part of the comb being thicker than the rest1 and forming a kind of knot2 sometimes the upper portion of the cell itself remains1 like an inverted acorn-cup1 suspended by its short peduncle4 ,yet no fond dupes to slavish zeal resign'd1 ,they link with industry the loyal mind4 ,flown is each vagrant chief8 ,they raze the dome1 ,that bent oppressive o'er the fetter'd comb1 ,and on its knotted base fresh gamers raise4 ,where toil secure her well-earn'd treasure lays4 ,evans4 ,in this mutilated state only1 and not in the breeding season1 could ,mr4 ,hunter have seen this cradle of royalty2 for he describes it as the half of an oval1 too wide and shallow to receive its supposed tenant4 ,the following sketch affords2 a representation of the hexagonal cells of a comb1 and also the attachment of the royal cradles4 ,illustration ,i have spoken of the perfect regularity in the cell-work of a honey-comb2--particular circumstances1 however1 induce a departure from this exactness3 for instance1 where bees have commenced a comb with small cell-work1 and afterwards wish to attach to it a set of large cells1 as in the case of drone-cells being required to be appended to workers-cells4 ,these deviations from the usual regularity renew our admiration of bee-ingenuity1 though ,reaumur and ,bonnet have regarded them as examples of imperfection4 ,they effect their object by interposing three or four series of1 what may be called1 cells of transition1 the bottoms or bases of which are composed of two rhombs and two hexagons1 instead of three rhombs2 the rhombs and hexagons gradually varying in form and relative proportion1 till the requisite size1 namely that of the cells which they are approaching1 has been attained4 ,the following outlines will serve to convey to the reader the regular steps in this progressive increase4 ,illustration ,the same gradation is observed when returning to smaller cells4 ,every apparent irregularity is therefore determined by a sufficient motive1 and forms no impeachment of the sagacity of the bee4 ,the common breeding-cells of drones or workers are1 occasionally1 7after being cleaned17 made the depositories of honey2 but the cells are never made so clean1 as to preserve the honey undeteriorated4 ,the finest honey is stored in new cells1 constructed for the purpose of receiving it1 their configuration resembling precisely the common breeding-cells3 these honey-cells vary in size1 being made more or less capacious1 according to the productiveness of the sources from which the bees are collecting1 and according to the season of the year3 the cells formed in ,july and ,august vary in their dimensions from those that are formed earlier2 being intended for honey only1 they are larger and deeper1 the texture of their walls is thinner1 and they have more dip or inclination3 this dip diminishes the risk of the honey's running out1 which from the heat of the weather1 and the consequent thinness of the honey1 at this season of the year1 it might otherwise be liable to do4 ,when the cells1 intended for holding the winter's provision1 are filled1 they are always closed with waxen lids1 and never re-opened till the whole of the honey in the unfilled cells has been expended4 ,the waxen lids are thus formed2--,the bees first construct a ring of wax within the verge of the cell1 to which other rings are successively added1 till the aperture of the cell is finally closed with a lid composed of concentric circles4 ,the brood-cells1 when their tenants have attained a certain age1 are also covered with waxen lids1 like the honey-cells2 the lids differ a little1 the latter being somewhat concave1 the former convex4 ,the depth of the brood-cells of drones and working bees is about half an inch2 their diameter is more exact1 that of the drone-cells being #c lines,,aa1 that of the workers #b lines4 ,these1 says ,reaumur1 are the invariable dimensions of all the cells1 that ever were1 or ever will be made4 ,footnote ,,aa3 ,a line is the twelfth part of an inch4 ,from this uniform1 unvarying diameter of the brood-cells1 when completed1 their use has been suggested1 as an universal standard of measure1 which would be understood1 in all countries1 to the end of time4 ,while heav'n-born ,instinct bounds their measur'd view1 ,from age to age1 from ,zembla to ,peru1 ,their snow-white cells1 the order'd artists frame1 ,in size1 in form1 in symmetry the same4 ,evans4 ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,an ,,inquiry ,,into ,,the ,,source ,,and ,,nature ,,of ,,bees-,,wax4 ,it has long been very generally and implicitly believed1 that the yellow matter 7in other words1 the pollen or farina of flowers17 which bees visibly collect upon their thighs1 is the prime constituent of wax1 the material of the honey-comb4 ,even ,bonnet and ,reaumur were of this opinion4 ,burler1 ,purchas1 ,rusden and ,thorley have argued against its identity with wax2 and ,i trust that the observations and experiments which ,i am about to detail1 will convince the dispassionate inquirer of the fallacy of this old opinion4 ,in the first place1 ,it is to be observed1 that where no more comb can be built1 as in old hives1 the bees carry in the greatest quantity of this yellow matter4 ,secondly1 ,that it differs materially from wax1 the latter when examined between the fingers being adhesive1 the former crumbly2 the latter also liquefying on the application of heat1 whilst the former burns to ashes4 ,thirdly1 ,that the wax of new combs1 from whatever source collected1 is uniformly white2 whereas the farina1 as gathered by the bees1 is always black1 yellow1 or red1 agreeing in colour with the anther-dust of the flowers in blossom at the time of its collection4 ,moreover1 the farina1 after it has been stored in the cells1 retains its original colour1 whilst wax invariably changes1 first to a yellow1 and lastly to a blackish tint4 ,layers of different-coloured farina are generally found in the cells1 if slit down2 and every hive1 at the season of deprivation1 possesses a store of it4 ,fourthly1 ,that fresh colonies carry in very little1 if any1 of this matter1 for some days after swarming1 though combs are formed within that period4 ,i noticed this fact in my first colony3 the swarm issued from the parent hive on the #ahth of ,may2--five days of rainy weather succeeded3 during this period the bees were prevented from flying abroad2 ,i fed them nightly with sugared ale1 and before the return of fine weather a considerable quantity of comb was formed4 ,now excepting such materials as the bees might have brought with them from the parent hive1 in this case1 the sugared ale alone must have been the source of the wax4 ,huish has remarked that unless bees have access to water1 and also to sugar or honey1 no comb can be formed4 ,again1 it may be observed1 that upon the storifying plan1 when fresh works are commenced in the duplets or triplets1 if the farina were the basis of the combs1 an increased quantity should be carried in4 ,on the contrary1 though ,i have watched the bees very minutely on these occasions1 ,i scarcely ever witnessed the introduction of farina2 and in such rare instances as ,i did observe it1 it might fairly be regarded as food for the young larv of the bees contained in the full box or boxes4 ,no pearly loads they bear2 but o'er the field ,round flower and fruit the lithe proboscis wield4 ,from meal-tipp'd anthers steal the lacquer'd crown1 ,and brush from rind or leaf the silvery down4 ,nay oft1 when threaten'd storms or drizzling rain4 ,close in their walls1 th' impatient hosts detain1 ,e'en from the yellow hoard's nectareous rill1 ,their tubes secerning can a stream distil1 ,clear and untinctur'd as the fountain wave1 ,that glides1 slow trickling1 thro' the crevic'd cave4 ,but1 as that welling wave1 around the stone1 ,in rings concentric1 wreathes its sparry zone4 ,so filter'd thro' yon flutterer's folded mail4 ,clings the cool'd wax1 and hardens to a scale4 ,evans4 ,the observations of ,mr4 ,john ,hunter tended to confirm this view of the matter2 still more so1 those of ,m4 ,huber and ,son4 ,in order to determine the point with greater precision1 ,huber instituted many experiments4 ,he lodged a recent swarm in a straw-hive1 leaving at its disposal only a sufficiency of honey and water for its consumption1 and preventing it from going beyond the precincts of a room1 so closed as to admit only a renewal of the air4 ,at the end of five days as many cakes of beautifully white1 though very fragile wax1 were suspended from the roof2 the honey had totally disappeared4 ,still however1 as there was a possibility that the thighs and stomachs of the bees might have conveyed pollen from the parent hive1 he withdrew these five combs1 and replaced the bees in the hive with a fresh supply of honey and water2 they renewed their toil with unabated industry1 and soon fabricated new combs3 these last were taken from them2 when the patient and indefatigable insects commenced a third structure of comb4 ,five times in succession were their works thus completed and removed1 although during the whole of this period they were fed merely with honey and water1 and could not possibly have had access to farina4 ,these experiments1 so uniform in their results1 give indubitable validity to the fact1--that honey1 through the organic intervention of bees1 may be converted into wax4 ,a contrary experiment was made1 by abundantly supplying a hive with fruit and pollen only3 but during eight days confinement the bees produced no wax whatever1 nor exhibited any plates under their abdominal rings2 no combs were formed1 nor was an atom of farina touched1--a clear proof that farina supplies neither wax nor sustenance to adult bees4 ,the improbability of this indeed is evinced by its abundance in hives whose tenants have died of famine4 ,and as to its being the constituent of wax1 ,reaumur calculated that a well stocked hive might collect at least #ajj pounds of pollen in a season1 whereas the weight of wax fabricated in the same time would not exceed two pounds4 ,experiments have proved the excellence of sugar as a substitute for honey1 and in some instances its superiority for the formation of wax4 ,it might otherwise have been supposed that bees might form comb from some particles of wax accidentally present in the honey1 and that these afforded the pabulum for this secretion4 ,to prove therefore that the saccharine principle alone enabled the bees to produce wax1 being still confined1 they were supplied with a syrup made with ,canary-sugar and water1 and at the same time comparative experiments were made in another hive1 where the bees were fed on honey and water4 ,the syrup-fed bees produced wax sooner and more abundantly than the honey-fed bees4 ,another fact was also incontrovertibly elicited2 namely1 that in the old hives the honey is warehoused1 and that in the new ones it is consumed and transmuted into wax4 ,the experiments of ,huber have been confirmed by those of ,m4 ,blondelu1 of ,noyau1 who addressed a memoir upon this subject to the ,society of ,agriculture at ,paris1 in ,may #ahab4 ,huish has critically examined these experiments of ,huber1 but without being convinced by them3 for having observed pollen on the thighs of bees when swarming1 and upon dissection1 in their stomachs also1 he considers that pollen1 elaborated in the second stomach of the bee1 contains in itself the principle of wax4 ,were this the case1 what a store of pollen must the bees have reserved1 in ,huber's experiments1 wherein they formed five successive sets of comb1 without access to fresh pollen6 ,the pollen or bee-bread1 which ,huish discovered on the thighs and in the stomachs of some of his bees1 was most likely intended for larva-food2 they were probably bees that had been abroad1 and joined the swarm on their passage home1 before they had deposited their freight in the parent hive4 ,with this pollen 7or ambrosia1 as it has been called71 after conversion into a sort of whitish jelly by the action of the bee's stomach1 where it is probably mixed with honey1 and then regurgitated1 the young brood1 immediately upon their exclusion and until their change into nymphs1 are fed by the nursing-bees several times a day4 ,the opinion that pollen is the prime constituent of wax was held by ,buffon1 and remains uncontradicted in an edition of his ,works so late as #ahba4 ,arthur ,dobbs1 ,esq41 in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ageb1 instead of considering wax as digested pollen discharged from the stomach of the bee1 regards it as being emitted per annum2 and as he speaks of its discharge in husks or shells1 doubtless he saw it in that form1 which it is now known to assume when moulded upon the body of the bee4 ,indeed he says that he has had swarming bees alight upon his hand1 and drop warm wax upon it4 ,its being secreted only by the under side of the belly might easily deceive1 and lead him to regard it as alvine excrement4 ,i will here subjoin some more proofs of the non-identity of wax and pollen4 ,so long ago as #agfh1 the ,lusatian ,society 7called ,socit des ,abeilles1 founded at little ,bautzen1 a village in ,upper ,lusatia1 under the auspices of the ,elector of ,saxony17 knew that wax was not discharged from the mouths of bees1 but was secreted in thin scales among their abdominal rings or segments4 ,about #aggd1 ,mr4 ,thorley caught a bee just entering its hive1 and found1 among the plaits of its belly1 no less than six pieces or scales of solid wax1 perfectly white and transparent1 and he oftentimes saw wax in the same situation4 ,m4 ,duchet1 in his ,culture des ,abeilles1 quoted by ,wildman in #aggh1 declares that wax is formed of honey2 and relates in proof of it1 that he has seen a broken comb of an overset hive1 which was repaired during bad weather1 when the bees could not acquire any other material4 ,this statement of ,duchet corresponds with my own observation1 as stated in page #ceg1 but is not so conclusive4 ,in ,duchet's instance there might have been other materials in the hive besides honey2 whereas in my case the bees had access to no materials whatever1 excepting the sugared ale and the honey which they had conveyed from the parent hive1 the swarm having been just hived4 ,wildman1 in his ,treatise on the ,management of ,bees1 states his having seen pieces of wax1 like fish scales1 on the hive floor of a fresh swarmed colony1 part of which he thinks must at least have been formed upon the body of the bee2 some flakes might have fallen from the combs then constructing1 but there were many pieces among them which were concave on one side and convex on the other1 as if moulded on the insect's belly4 ,flakes were likewise seen1 hanging loose1 between the abdominal scales of the bees4 ,in #agib1 ,mr4 ,john ,hunter1 apparently unacquainted with antecedent conjectures1 detected the genuine reservoir of wax under the bee's belly4 ,he considered wax as an external secretion of oil1 formed and moulded between the abdominal scales of the insect4 ,dr4 ,evans confirms the testimony of ,wildman and ,hunter1 having been an eye-witness to the formation of wax into flakes4 ,one or more bees1 he remarks1 may be often seen before the door of the hive1 supporting themselves by their two fore-feet1 fluttering their wings1 and agitating the hind parts of their bodies4 ,they are then evidently moulding the wax between their abdominal scales1 the motion of the wings serving to preserve their balance1 and as a signal for their companions within to come and carry off the falling flakes4 ,in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ahjg1 ,mr4 ,knight states that there is no such secretory process2 that the wax is laid on the scales of the abdomen for the convenience of carriage1 and to receive warmth preparatory to cell-building4 ,to complete the evidence however1 to me so irresistible1 in favour of the wax-secreting faculty of the bee's body1 ,i observe finally1 that in #agic1 ,m4 ,huber's observations led him to the same conclusion as ,mr4 ,hunter's1 relative to the nature of the lamin under the abdominal scales3 but ,huber slumbered not there1 he prosecuted the inquiry more successfully than any preceding naturalist1 and at length demonstrated the secreting organs which had eluded the scrutiny of ,swammerdam1 ,hunter1 and other acute anatomists4 ,he found that these lamin were contained in distinct receptacles1 on each side of the middle process of the scales2 he examined with great care the form and structure of these secreting cavities1 which are peculiar to working bees4 ,each working bee has eight of these organs1 sacklets or small compartments4 ,their general shape is an irregular pentagon1 and the plates of wax1 being moulded in them1 exhibit accordingly the same form4 ,a perforation of their lining membrane on the side next to the abdomen1 started a jet of transparent fluid1 which congealed on cooling2 in this state it resembled wax1 and became again fluid on the application of heat4 ,comparative experiments were made with the substance contained in the pouches and with the wax of fresh combs3 a great similarity between these two substances was discerned2 the latter appeared somewhat more compound1 having probably received some additional ingredient1 while employed as the material for building4 ,the secreting function of the membrane on the inner surface of these cavities1 was further evinced1 by a more minute examination of its structure1 which exhibited a number of folds1 forming an hexagonal net-work1 analogous to the inner coat of the second stomach of ruminating quadrupeds4 ,huber does not appear to have known the observations either of ,duchet or of ,wildman on this subject1 although they were made long prior to ,mr4 ,hunter's2 for he quotes only from the latter4 ,when combs are wanted1 bees fill their crops with honey1 and retaining it in them1 hang together in a cluster from the top of the hive1 and remain inactive about twenty-four hours4 ,during this time the wax is secreted1 and may be seen in lamin1 under the abdominal scales1 whence it is removed by the hind legs of the bee1 and transferred to the fore legs2 from them it is taken by the jaws1 and after being masticated as described in ,chap1 ,,xxxiv1 page #cdg1 the fabrication of comb commences4 ,to see the wax-pockets in the hive-bee1 you must press the abdomen1 so as to cause its distention2 you will then find1 on each of the four intermediate ventral segments1 separated by the carina or elevated central part1 two trapeziform whitish pockets1 of a soft membranaceous texture3 on these the lamin of wax are formed1 in different states1 more or less perceptible,,ab4 ,footnote ,,ab3 ,kirby and ,spence4 ,messrs4 ,huber and ,son ascertained that the office of collecting honey1 for the elaboration of wax1 is filled by a particular description of bees or labourers1 to which they have given the name of wax-workers4 ,these bees are susceptible of an increase in size1 as is evident from the state of their stomachs1 when quite full of honey4 ,dissection has shown that their stomachs are more capacious than those of the bees that are differently occupied4 ,bees not possessed of this expanding stomach1 gather no more honey than is necessary to supply the immediate wants of themselves and their companions1 with whom they readily share it3 these are called nursing-bees1 their principal duty being to attend the eggs and larv4 ,the task of storing the hive with provisions devolves upon the wax-workers1 who1 when not occupied in the construction of comb1 disgorge their honey into those cells which are intended for its reception4 ,by marking the bees1 it was found that they never encroached upon each other's employment3 this strict adjustment of duty is the more remarkable1 since the power of producing wax is common both to the nursing- and wax-working bees1 a small quantity of wax being really found in the receptacles of the nursing-bees4 ,in the foregoing experiments for ascertaining the sources of wax1 the bees had borne their confinement without evincing the least impatience2 but on another occasion1 when shut up with a brood of eggs and larv1 and without pollen1 though honey was copiously supplied1 they manifested uneasiness and rage at their imprisonment4 ,fearing the consequence of this state of tumult being prolonged1 ,huber allowed them to escape in the evening1 when too late to collect provisions2 the bees soon returned home4 ,at the end of five days1 during which this experiment was tried1 the hive was examined3--the larv had perished1 and the jelly that surrounded them on their introduction into the hive had disappeared4 ,the same bees were then supplied with a fresh brood1 together with some comb containing pollen3 very different indeed was their behaviour with this outfit2 they eagerly seized the pollen and conveyed it to the young2 order and prosperity were re-established in the colony2 the larv underwent the usual transformations2 royal cells were completed and closed with wax1 and the bees showed no desire to quit their habitation4 ,these experiments afford indisputable evidence of the origin of wax and the destination of pollen4 ,though the wax of honey and brood-comb be an original secretion from the body of the bee1 wax is also considered by some as a vegetable substance existing abundantly in nature4 ,according to ,proust1 it forms the silvery down on the leaves1 flowers and fruit of many plants1 and resides likewise in the fecul of others4 ,dr4 ,darwin1 in his ,phytologia1 supposes that wax is secreted to glaze over the fecundating dust of the anthers1 and prevent its premature explosion from excessive moisture3 to an unseasonable dispersion of anther-dust he ascribes the failure of orchard and corn crops in summers of extreme humidity4 ,the wax-tree of ,louisiana,,ac 7,myrica cerifera7 contains immense quantities of wax4 ,in this respect there appears an identity betwixt animal and vegetable secretion1 which may be viewed as indicative of simplicity in the structure of the bee3 a still simpler organization exists in the aphis1 which extracts the saccharine juices from the leaves and bark of trees1 and expels them again nearly unchanged,,ad4 ,footnote ,,ac3 ,vide ,part ,i4 ,chap4 #bh4 ,footnote ,,ad3 ,vide ,part ,i4 ,chap4 #e4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,,pollen4 ,pollen and ,farina1 in the language of ,botanists1 are terms applied to the powdery particles discharged by the anthers of flowers in warm dry weather1 and which hang about the stamina4 ,the colour1 as well as the structure of pollen1 varies in different plants4 ,its use1 in fecundating the germens of flowers1 is well known3 the services of bees1 towards that end1 will be noticed in a separate chapter4 ,the sixth volume of the ,linnan ,transactions contains an interesting paper upon this substance1 from the pen of ,mr4 ,luke ,howard4 ,pollen has a capsular structure1 varying its shape in different flowers1 insomuch as to be a popular object for the microscope4 ,each grain consists commonly of a membranous bag1 which1 when it has come to maturity1 bursts on the application of moisture3 this bursting is naturally effected by the honey-like exudation of the stigma2 but if extraneous moisture accomplish it prematurely1 the pollen is rendered useless for the purpose of fructification4 ,whenever moistened1 the bag explodes with great force1 and discharges a subtle vapour or essence1 which1 when released by the peculiar moisture of the stigma1 performs effectually its final purpose4 ,this substance was once erroneously supposed to be the prime constituent of wax2 but the experiments of ,hunter and ,huber have proved that wax is a secretion from the bodies of wax-working bees,,ae1 and that the principal purpose of pollen is to nourish the embryo-bees2 7it has been called the ambrosia of the hive74 ,huber was the first who suggested this idea1 and it well accords with what we observe among other parts of the animal kingdom2--birds1 for instance1 feed their young with different food from what they take themselves4 ,mr4 ,hunter examined the stomachs of the maggot-bees1 and found farina in all1 but not a particle of honey in any of them4 ,huber considers the pollen as undergoing a peculiar elaboration in the stomachs of the nursing-bees1 to be fitted for the nutriment of the larv4 ,footnote ,,ae3 ,vide ,chap4 ,,xxxv4 ,in spring1 says ,dr4 ,evans1 which may be called the bee's first carrying season1 scarcely one of the labourers is seen returning to the hive1 without a little ball or pellet of farina1 on each of its hinder legs4 ,these balls are invariably of the same colour as the anther-dust of the flowers then in bloom1 the different tints of yellow1 as pale1 greenish or deep orange1 being most prevalent4 ,the bees may frequently be observed to roll their bodies on the flower1 and then1 brushing off the pollen which adheres to them1 with their feet1 form it into two masses1 which they dispose of in the usual way4 ,in very dry weather1 when probably the particles of pollen cannot be made to cohere1 ,i have often seen them return home so completely enveloped by it1 as to give them the appearance of a different species of bee4 ,the anther-dust1 thus collected1 is conveyed to the interior of the hive1 and there brushed off by the collector or her companions4 ,reaumur and others have observed1 that bees prefer the morning for collecting this substance1 most probably that the dew may assist them in the moulding of their little balls4 ,i have seen them abroad1 says ,reaumur1 gathering farina before it was light2 they continue thus occupied till about ten o'clock4 ,brush'd from each anther's crown1 the mealy gold4 ,with morning dew1 the light fang'd artists mould4 ,fill with the foodful load their hollow'd thigh1 ,and to their nurslings bear the rich supply4 ,evans4 ,this is their practice during the warmer months2 but in ,april and ,may1 and at the settlement of a recent swarm1 they carry pollen throughout the day2 but even in these instances1 the collection is made in places most likely to furnish the requisite moisture for moulding the pellets1 namely1 in shady and sometimes in very distant places4 ,when a bee has completed her loading1 she returns to the hive1 part of her cargo is instantly devoured by the nursing-bees1 to be regurgitated for the use of the larv1 and another part is stored in cells for future exigencies1 in the following manner4 ,the bee1 while seeking a fit cell for her freight1 makes a noise with her wings1 as if to summon her fellow-citizens round her2 she then fixes her two middle and her two hind legs upon the edge of the cell which she has selected1 and curving her body1 seizes the farina with her fore legs1 and makes it drop into the cell3 thus freed from her burthen1 she hurries off to collect again4 ,another bee immediately packs the pollen1 and kneads and works it down into the bottom of the cell1 probably mixing a little honey with it1 judging from the moist state in which she leaves it2 an air-tight coating of varnish finishes this storing of pollen4 ,from the uniform colour of each collection1 it is reasonable to suppose that the bee never visits more than one species of flower on the same journey2 this was the opinion of ,aristotle1 and the generality of modern observers have confirmed it4 ,reaumur1 however1 supposed that the bee ranged from flowers of one species to those of another indiscriminately4 ,mr4 ,arthur ,dobbs1 in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ageb1 states that he has repeatedly followed bees when collecting pollen2 and that whatever flowers they first alighted upon decided their choice for that excursion1 all other species being passed over unregarded3 ,butler had previously asserted the same thing4 ,here we see the operation of a discriminating instinct1 which in the first place leads the insect to make an aggregation of homogeneous particles1 which of course form the closest cohesion2 and in the next place prevents the multiplication of hybrid plants4 ,this remark was made by ,sprengel1 who has confirmed the observations of ,dobbs1 ,butler1 and others4 ,the bees1 which ,reaumur observed to visit flowers of different species1 might have been in quest of honey as well as of pollen4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,,propolis4 ,besides the honey and pollen which are gathered by bees1 they collect a resinous substance1 that is very tenacious1 semitransparent1 and which gives out a balsamic odour1 somewhat resembling that of storax4 ,in the mass1 it is of a reddish brown colour2 when broken1 its colour approaches that of wax4 ,dissolved in spirit of wine or oil of turpentine1 it imparts1 as varnish1 a golden colour to silver1 tin1 and other white polished metals4 ,being supposed to possess medicinal virtue1 it was formerly kept in the shop of the apothecary4 ,according to ,vauquelin1 propolis consists of one part of wax and four of pure resin2 in which respect1 and in its yielding the same acid1 7the benzoic17 it resembles balsam ,peru4 ,it also contains some aromatic principles4 ,with propolis1 bees attach the combs to the roof and sides of their dwelling1 stop crevices1 fasten the hives or boxes to the floors and roofs1 strengthen the weak places of their domicile1 and varnish the cell-work of their combs4 ,the chapter on ,instincts details the modes in which bees employ it for their protection against intruders into their hives4 ,from its being used for the firm attachment of combs to the roofs of hives1 it must be the first matter collected by a recent swarm4 ,the term ,propolis is derived from the ,greek1 and signifies 'before the city1' bees having been observed to make use of it1 in strengthening the outworks of their city4 ,reaumur was unable to discover its vegetable source4 ,it is generally supposed to be gathered from the resinous exudations of the poplar1 alder1 birch1 and willow2 according to ,riem1 from pines and other trees of the fir tribe2 though some authors have alleged that bees can produce it where no such trees are near them1 and that turpentine and other resins have been disregarded when laid before them4 ,a recent experiment of ,huber has solved this question3 he planted in spring some branches of the wild poplar1 before the leaves were developed1 and placed them in pots near his apiary3 the bees alighting on them separated the folds of the largest buds with their forceps1 extracted the varnish in threads1 and loaded with it1 first one thigh and then the other2 for they convey it like pollen1 transferring it by the first pair of legs to the second1 by which it is lodged in the hollow of the third4 ,huber examined the chemical properties of this varnish1 and identified it with the propolis which fastens the combs to the hives4 ,with respect to the absence of fir-trees1 c4 in the neighbourhood of the hives1 it is to be recollected1 in the first place1 that bees will fly about three miles 7some say five17 for what they may want3 ,huber thinks that the radius of the circle they traverse does not exceed half a league1 yet says that the question is undecided4 ,in the second place1 that a balsamic and tenacious secretion is found upon the buds of several plants and trees1 which are often crowded with these insects2 such for instance as the tacamahac1 horse-chesnut1 and hollyhock4 ,dr4 ,evans says that he has been an eye-witness of their collecting the balsamic varnish which coats the young blossom buds of the hollyhock1 and has seen them rest at least ten minutes on the same bud1 moulding the balsam with their fore-feet and transferring it to the hinder legs1 as above stated4 ,when finally moulded1 the pellets of propolis are of a lenticular form4 ,with merry hum the ,willow's copse they scale1 ,the fir's dark pyramid1 or ,poplar pale1 ,scoop from the ,alder's leaf its oozy flood1 ,or strip the ,chesnut's resin-coated bud1 ,skim the light tear that tips ,narcissus' ray4 ,or round the ,hollyhock's hoar fragrance play4 ,soon temper'd to their will through eve's low beam1 ,and link'd in airy bands the viscous stream4 ,they waft their nut-brown loads exulting home1 ,that form a fret-work for the future comb1 ,caulk every chink where rushing winds may roar1 ,and seal their circling ramparts to the floor4 ,evans4 ,as to the bees refusing resinous substances1 when presented to them1 as substitutes for propolis1 ,mr4 ,knight has assured us1 in the ,philosophical ,transactions1 that this is not the fact2 as he had seen them carry off a composition of wax and turpentine1 which had been laid over the decorticated parts of his trees4 ,the bees blend this substance with wax in different proportions1 as occasion may require4 ,among the ancients1 it bore different names1 according to the quantity of wax it contained4 ,virgil made this distinction1 though ,mr4 ,martin conceives that his narcissi lachrym1 cera cum qu--spiramenta tenuia linunt1--and gluten1 all mean the same thing3 this is probably a mistake4 ,it seems much more likely that ,virgil should mean metys1 pissoceron and propolis1 the three names by which ,pliny says that the varieties of propolis were distinguished in his time4 ,i have before alluded to the fortification of the weak places of hives with propolis4 ,m4 ,reaumur1 whose hives consisted of wooden frames and panes of glass1 wishing to put this talent of the bees to the test1 carelessly fastened the glass of a hive with paper and paste1 before putting in a swarm2 the bees soon discovered the weakness of his paste-work1 and indignantly gnawing to pieces this feeble fence1 secured the glass with their own cement4 ,i have already observed1 that the sage bee chooses the morning for collecting pollen1 on account of the dew's enabling her to compress it better2 but1 as moisture would render propolis less coherent1 she gathers this substance when the day is somewhat advanced1 and when the warmth of the sun has imparted to it softness and pliancy4 ,these qualities are however soon lost1 after it has been detached from the secreting surfaces1 and exposed to the oxygenizing power of the air4 ,so rapid is this hardening process1 that the bees which store it1 oftentimes find some difficulty in tearing it with their jaws from the thighs of its collectors4 ,,chapter ,,xxxviii4 ,,importance ,,of ,,bees ,,to ,,the ,,fructification ,,of ,,flowers4 ,honey is regarded by modern naturalists as of no other use to plants but to allure insects1 which1 by visiting the nectaries of their flowers to procure it1 become instrumental to their fertilization1 either by scattering the dust of the stamens upon the stigmata of the same flower1 or by carrying it from those which produce only male blossoms to those that bear female ones1 and thereby rendering the latter fertile4 ,no class of insects renders so much service in this way as bees2 they have however been accused of injuring vegetables1 in three ways3 #ast1 by purloining for their combs the wax which defends the prolific dust of the anthers from rain2 #bndly1 by carrying off the dust itself1 as food for their young larv2 and #c;dly1 by devouring the honey of the nectaries1 intended to nourish the vegetable organs of fructification,,af4 ,footnote ,,af3 ,darwin's ,phytologia4 ,in defence of his insect proteges1 ,dr4 ,evans has observed3 ,first1 ,that the proportion of wax collected from the anthers is probably very trifling1 it being so readily and abundantly obtainable from honey4 ,secondly1 ,that for any depredations committed on the farina1 they amply compensate1 by their inadvertent yet providential conveyance of it1 on their limbs and corslets1 to the female organs of monoecious or dioecious plants2 whose impregnation must otherwise have depended on the uncertain winds4 ,this is exemplified in the practice of our gardeners1 who in early spring1 before they dare expose their hotbeds to the open air1 and consequently to the access of insects1 insure the fertility of the cucumbers and melons1 by shaking a male blossom over each female flower4 ,for the same purpose1 and with the same success1 a gentleman in ,shropshire substitutes a male blossom1 in place of the female one1 at the top of his embryo cucumber1 which instantly adheres1 and falls off in due time4 ,to the same kind intrusion of insects we owe the numberless new sorts of esculents and endless varieties of flowers in the parterre3 ',where ,beauty plays ,her idle freaks2 from family diffus'd ,to family1 as flies the father dust ,the varied colours run4' ,thomson ,thirdly1 ,that in a great many instances1 the honey-cups are completely beyond the reach of the fructifying organs1 and cannot possibly be subservient to their use4 ,hence ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,smith believes the honey to be intended1 by its scent1 to allure these venial panders to the flowers1 and thereby shows how highly he estimates their value to vegetation4 ,see his ,introduction to ,botany4 ,in the same work1 the author observes that ,sprengel has ingeniously demonstrated1 in some hundreds of instances1 how the corolla serves as an attraction to insects1 indicating by various marks1 sometimes perhaps by its scent1 where they may find honey1 and accommodating them with a convenient resting-place or shelter while they extract it4 ,this elegant and ingenious theory receives confirmation from almost every flower we examine4 ,proud man is disposed to think that ',full many a flower is born to blush unseen1' because he has not deigned to explore it2 but we find that even the beauties of the most sequestered wilderness are not made in vain4 ,they have myriads of admirers1 attracted by their charms1 and rewarded by their treasures1 which would be as useless as the gold of a miser1 to the plant itself1 were they not the means of bringing insects about it4 ,thus the bee1 by settling upon and collecting honey from a thousand different flowers1 is thereby assisting the great purpose of vegetable reproduction1 at the same time that the loads she carries home enable her to construct receptacles for the reproduction of her own race4 ,for the due fertilization of the common ,barberry1 it is necessary that its irritable stamens should be brought into contact with the pistil1 by the application of some stimulus to the base of the filament2 but this would never take place were not insects attracted1 by the melliferous glands of the flower1 to insinuate themselves amongst the filaments1 and thus1 while seeking their own food1 unknowingly to fulfil the intentions of ,nature in another department4 ,in some cases the agency of the hive-bee is inadequate to produce the required end2 in these the humble-bee is the operator3 these alone1 as ,sprengel has observed1 are strong enough for instance1 to force their way beneath the style-flag of the ,iris ,xiphium1 which in consequence is often barren4 ,other insects besides bees are instrumental in producing the same ends2 indeed they are necessary instruments3 and hence according to the same naturalist1 in some places1 where the particular insect required is not to be met with1 no fruit is formed upon the plant which is usually visited by it1 where it is indigenous2 for he supposes that some plants have particular insects appropriated to them4 ,the ,american ,aristolochia ,sipho1 though it flowers plentifully1 never forms fruit in our gardens1 probably for the reason just assigned4 ,the ,date ,palm affords a striking instance of the necessity of extraneous intervention to perfect fructification2 male and female flowers are borne on separate trees1 and unless the two sorts be in the neighbourhood of each other1 the fruit has no kernel and is not proper for food4 ,there was a tree of this kind1 bearing female flowers1 at ,berlin1 for the fructification of which1 a branch1 with male flowers upon it1 was once sent by post from ,leipsic1 7#bj ,german miles17 and being suspended over some of the pistils1 the tree afterwards yielded fruit and seed in abundance4 ,professor ,willdenow has stated a very curious circumstance1 concerning the ,aristolochia ,clematitis4 ,he observes that the stamens and pistils of the flower are inclosed in its globular base1 the anthers being under the stigma1 which thereby requires the intervention of an insect1 to convey the pollen to it4 ,the ,tipula pennicornis accomplishes this object2 it enters the flower by its tubular part1 which is thickly lined with inflected hairs1 so as readily to admit the fly1 but totally to prevent its release1 till by the fading of the corolla the hairs have fallen flat against its sides4 ,hence the insect in struggling to effect its escape1 brushes off the pollen and applies it to the stigma1 thereby accomplishing the fertilization of the flower4 ,,index4 ,page4 ,anatomy of the bee #bdi ,the head #bea ,the proboscis ib4 lips #bec tongue ib4 pharynx #bed sophagus or gullet ib4 mandibles #bee maxill ib4 antenna #bee1 #bib1 #cjg palpi #bef1 #cjh eyes #bef ,the trunk #bej1 #bef ,the wings #bef legs #beg ,the abdomen #bea1 #beh ,the honey-bag #beh venom-bag ib4 anus ib4 ovipositor ib4 sting ib4 organs of reproduction ib4 ,anger of bees #bhh not apt to be excited at a distance from home #bij fatal consequences of #bhh ,animation of bees suspended #bjb ,antenn #bee1 #bib1 #cjg effects of their excision #cji organs for communicating information #bib for receiving meteorological intelligence ib4 ,antipathies of bees #cjc ,ants1 anecdotes respecting #ahc1 #bje 7,amazon7 anecdote of #cbc enslaved #cbd their milch cattle #gd white1 wonderful fertility of #dj ,aphides #gb principal source of honey-dew ib4 their willing subserviency to bees and ants #ge wonderful fertility of #cb ,apiary #dh best aspect for ib4 ,bonner's #ea circumstances to be avoided in #dh to be desired in ib4 ,apparatus for deprivation #ajg ,architecture of bees #cci commencement and progress of a comb first observed by ,huber #cdj construction of a cell #cdj of cells of transition #cec of drone-cells #cej of royal-cells #cea geometrical accuracy of cell-work #cdb demonstrated by ,maraldi1 ,knig1 and ,mc,laurin #cdf honey-comb1 description of #ceb varnish for strengthening cell-work #cdd ,armour of defence against bees1 c4 #age ,aurelia4 ,vide ,pupa4 ,bee1 honey1 comprises three descriptions of individuals #a ,bee1 anatomy of4 ,vide ,anatomy4 ,bee-boxes #hc compared with hives #ajj dimensions of #hc ,dunbar's #ajb observations therein #ajc history of #aji ,huber's #ajb ,hunter's ib4 materials for1 best #hc ,gedde's #aaa ,hartlib's #aaj ,mew's ib4 ,reaumur's #ajb ,thorley's #aaa ,warder's ib4 ,white's ib4 centre-boards #hh floor boards #hg reference to venders of #hi ,bee bread #i1 #cga dress #age eater of ,selborne #ccg flowers4 ,vide ,pasturage4 house #eb shed #ii ,bees1 adherence of to life #bjb anger of #bhh protection against #agg animation of1 suspended #bja antipathies of #cjc attachment to queen #adj ballasting themselves 7erroneous7 #dh black #g brooding 7erroneous7 #f build combs sometimes under resting boards #abe their contests with each other #bhi by single combat ib4 by general engagement ib4 corsair #bjg death1 sudden1 from effluvia of ,rhus ,vernix #aig diseases of4 ,vide ,diseases of ,bees4 drone4 ,vide ,drones4 duration1 extraordinary1 of a colony #bih education of #bfj embryo #aj development of1 affected by temperature #ad enemies of4 ,vide ,enemies of ,bees4 evolution of ab ovo #aj excursions of #cgg exotic4 ,vide ,exotic ,bees4 excrement of #ahh1 #aid fructifiers of flowers4 ,vide ,fructification of ,flowers4 generation1 absurd theory of #ce1 #dh harvest season of #aai impatient of cold #aad indisposition to ascend with their works #aab instincts of4 ,vide ,instincts of ,bees4 intellect of #cai intoxicated sometimes #fj language of4 ,vide ,language of ,bees4 longevity of #bif mode of approaching #agg mortality of1 extraordinary in #agfb #ahf numbers in a hive #c number of stocks in some situations #bcd1 #bce nymph #ab origin1 ancient notion of #dh overstocking of #bce perspiration of #bgc poison of #bhf in the pupa state #ab purchase of #hj queen4 ,vide ,queen4 regurgitating power of #bbi removal from hives to boxes #adh respiration of #bff scouts4 ,vide ,providers4 secretions of #bgc senses of4 ,vide ,senses4 sexes of #bj sleep of #bie stinging of #bhd stingless #baj stock1 criterions of a good one #ha suffocation of #agd sulphuring of ib4 swarming of4 ,vide ,swarming of ,bees4 swarming1 not apt to sting #ach striking instance of it #aci of the contrary ib4 transportation of4 ,vide ,transportation4 wax #bbj average quantity in a hive #bba criterions of good #bbj difference from myrtle wax #bbd annual consumption of #bbb secretion of1 promoted by electricity #bcb separation of from honey #baf source and nature of4 ,vide ,source and ,nature of ,bees-wax1 white #bba working #c collectors from birth #ae compared with drones #e destroy the drones #dd fertile sometimes #bc office of #c sex of #c1 #bd ,cuvier's remarks on #bd ,jurine's dissections of ib4 usual number in a hive #c ,braggot1 or common mead #bde ,breeding1 commencement of #cg signs of #aah early1 to promote #aai ,hubbard's opinion of #aag ,cells1 construction of4 ,vide ,architecture4 ,chrysalis4 ,vide ,pupa4 ,circulation #bga ,clustering #abc ,cocoons #aa1 #ab ,cold1 effect of on bees #aag in diminishing the consumption of honey #ahe ,combs1 construction of #cdj constructed sometimes under resting-boards #abe ,comparative advantages of storifying and single-hiving #abb of wooden boxes and straw-hives #ajj ,deprivation #afb to be exercised cautiously #afc possible accident at the time of #afe modes of performing #afg ,isaac's #agj ,keys's #agj ,dovaston's #aga ,evans's #agb proper periods for #afb ,diseases of bees #ahd ,dysentery #ahh ,vertigo #ahi ,tumefaction of ,antenn #aib ,pestilence or ,faux ,couvain ib4 probable causes of ib4 remedies ib4 preventive #aie review of different theories of ib4 ,dividers and other implements #ajg their use in deprivation #afg ,drones1 their use #e1 #cj evolution of ab ovo #ad massacre of #dc how effected #dd not found in all swarms #d number usual in a hive #c occasional preservation of #dd sitting upon the eggs #f opinion of ,mr4 ,morris ib4 of ,fabricius ib4 of ,kirby and ,spence ib4 ,dunbar's observations in his mirror-hive #h1 #ba ,eggs--drone1 royal1 worker #h first laying of #cg great laying of #aaf misplaced1 devoured by workers #db number of1 laid in a given period #ci1 #dj period at which each sort is laid #cg transportation1 opinion of #db worker1 may be rendered royal #ai ,electricity1 effect on secretion of wax and honey #bcb ,enemies of bees #aii protection against #bjc ,excrement of bees #ahh1 #aid ,exotic bees #baj their honey-cells ib4 of ,guadaloupe ib4 ,guiana #baa ,india ib4 ,south ,america ib4 ,basil ,hall's ,account ib4 ,eye of the bee1 peculiar construction of4 ,vide ,senses4 #cab ,farina #cgj collecting of #cga time of #cgb confined to one species of flower on each journey #cgc ,reaumur's opinion ib4 ,dobbs1 ,butler and ,sprengel's #cgc1 #cgd conveyance of #cgb food of larv1 and not the constituent of wax #cga fructifying power of #cgj preparation of for use #cga source of #cgj storing of #cgc structure of #cgj ,fading #agi importance of #aic syrup for ib4 modes of ib4 times of #aeb ,fermentation1 conduct of #bdj ,fertility of insects #cb1 #dj ,flies in ,madeira wine #bja ,fly1 flesh1 erroneous judgement respecting #cjf ,food of larv #aj ,fructification of flowers #chj instrumentality of bees to that end ib4 bees attracted to flowers by their nectar ib4 accused by ,dr4 ,darwin of injuring flowers ib4 defended by ,dr4 ,evans ib4 ,opinion of ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,smith #chb of ,sprengel #chc not the only insects that promote fructification ib4 in the ,barberry for instance1 the ,iris ,xiphium1 the ,aristolochia ,sipho of ,america1 the ,a4 ,clematitis1 and the ,date ,palm ib4 ,hawk-moth1 ,death's ,head #bjh ravages committed by it in the apiary ib4 resources of the bees ib4 ,hearing1 sense of4 ,vide ,sensation1 organs of2 and ,senses4 ,hives #ie ,chelmsford and ,hertford #if compared with boxes #ajj construction of1 best #ig dimensions of #if distances at which they should stand from each other #di ,dunbar's #ajb his observations therein #ajc heat occasional in #ci usual in ib4 materials proper for #ie leaf #ajb ,moreton #if ,huber's #ia ,huish's #ij preparation of #acg ,reaumur's #ic situation proper for #di straw #if ,thorley's #ib ,wildman's #ic with glasses ib4 ,hiving of swarms #acf ,super- and ,nadir- #abd1 #aea ,honey #bbf analysis of #bcc animalization of #bbg candying of #aif contrivances of bees to keep it in open cells #bbh ,corsican1 not mulcted by the ,romans #fc criterions of good #bcb deleterious #fe1 #aij1 #bcj flavour affected by pasturage #fe1 #bbi by season #bcb by mode of separation ib4 harvests of #afe preservation of #bcc qualities of #bca quantity required for winter consumption #afb average afforded by a colony #bbf sometimes taken ib4 secretion of1 promoted by electricity #bcb separation of1 from wax #baf taken by means of dividers #afg ,honeycomb #cci ,honey-dew #ga ancient opinions of #ga modern ditto #gb ,gilbert ,white's #ga ,dr4 ,evans's #gb ,dr4 ,darwin's ib4 ,mr4 ,curtis's ib4 ,sir ,j4 ,e4 ,smith's #gc ,boissier de ,sauvages's #gi trees addicted to it #gg yields a great harvest to the storifyer #gh ,humble-bees #bjg1 #bji1 #cai1 #cbg ,humming1 causes of #bgj ,idiot bee-eater #ccg ,imago #ac ,implements1 bee #ajg ,impregnation4 ,vide ,queen4 ,instinct #cah definition of #cce most remarkable in creatures that congregate #cah of humble-bees ib4 all the phnomena of insect life not referable to it #cbb ,darwin's opinion #cbc ,hunter's #ccj ,virey's #cca ,des ,cartes' ib4 ,buffon's ib4 circumstance noticed by ,dr4 ,evans #cbe by ,mr4 ,walond #bcf ,huber's humble-bees #cbg ,amazon ants #cbc bee fortifications #cbh anecdote of a beetle #ccj ,instinct may be directed by intellect #ccc modified and counteracted by intellect ib4 instanced in birds' nests ib4 in ,sir ,j4 ,banks's spider #ccb in dogs #ccc ,maraldi's ,slug #cbj ,reaumur's ,snail #cai ,reimar's opinion of memory #ccc weakened by domestication #ccf strengthened by concentration ib4 ,intellect of bees #cai capable of modifying and counteracting instinct #ccc capable of directing instinct ib4 ,jelly1 royal #bj ,jurine1 ,miss1 dissections of #bd ,knowledge distinguished from ,wisdom #ccd ,language of bees #bia ,mr4 ,knight's opinion ib4 ,m4 ,huber's ib4 his experiments ib4 ,larv #aj food of ib4 progressive growth of #ab motions of #ae voraciousness of #ab inclosure or sealing up of #aa commencement of spinning cocoon ib4 worker may become royal #ai ,leaf-hives #ajb ,dunbar's #ajc ,huber's #aje ,hunter's #ajb ,reaumur's ib4 ,leaven1 artificial #bdb natural #bdj1 #bdb ,locusts1 female1 destroyed by males #df ,longevity of bees #bif extraordinary duration of a colony #bih ,mead1 antiquity of #bcf ,braggot1 or common #bde directions for making #bdd esteemed by our ancestors #bcg ideal nectar of the ,scandinavians ib4 ,memory of bees #bfj1 #cad ,reimar's opinion #ccc ,metys #cgh ,mortality among bees and wasps #ahf ,moth-wax #aii eggar1 anecdote of #cjf hawk4 ,vide ,hawk-moth4 ,motions of insects #bgd instances of extraordinary power of #bge ,nadir-hiving #abd1 #aea ,nutrition #bgb ,nymph #ab resemblance to a mummy #ac ,palpi #bef ,pasturage #ee effect on the flavour of honey #ff1 #bcj ancient opinion of #fe ,barthelemy's ib4 ,duppa's #bcj noxious #fg1 #bcj ,xenophon's opinion of #fg ,tournefort's ib4 ,darwin's opinion of #fh ,barton's #fh1 #bca ,pellets1 moulding of #cgb ,perspiration #bgc ,pissoceros #cgh ,poison of ,bees #bhf its nature ib4 crystallizes in drying ib4 ,pollen4 ,vide ,farina4 ,propolis #cge analysis of ib4 mode of conveying #cgf source of ib4 ,huber's experiments ib4 ,evans's observations #cgg ,knight's #cgh form of its pellets #cgg variously compounded with wax #cgh time of gathering #cgi uses of #cge substitutes sometimes used for #cgh ,reaumur's experiment ib4 ,providers1 or ,scouts #aca ,warder's opinion of #acb ,butler's ib4 ,knight's ib4 ,evans's ib4 ,duchet's ib4 ,reaumur's ib4 ,buffon's ib4 ,bonnet's ib4 ,huber's ib4 ,bonner's #ace ,pupa #ab resemblance of to a mummy #ac ,queen-bees1 artificial #bj discovery attributed to ,schirach ib4 said to have been long known #bj opinions of ,vogel and ,monticelli ib4 experiment of ,dunbar #bb not mute as ,huber supposed #bc attachment of workers to #ada enmity towards1 and combats with each other #bha evolution of ab ovo #ad homage paid to #add impregnation of #be opinions concerning ib4 ,bonner's #bh ,bonnet's #bi ,butler's #cf ,debraw's #bg ,dobbs's #bf ,fleming's #cb ,hattorf's #bh ,huber's #bg1 et seq4 ,huish's #bg ,hunter's #cj1 #cc ,linnus's #cc ,lombard's #bi ,maraldi's #bf ,reaumur's #bf ,schirach's #bh ,swammerdam's #be ,wildman's #cf objections to ,huber's theory ib4 impregnation retarded #cg1 #da intercourse with drones #cj1 et seq4 probable duration of fertilizing influence #ca laying1 commencement of #cg affected by temperature ib4 loss of1 its consequences #add mode of depositing eggs #h mode of searching for when a stock has been suffocated #agd mutilated1 lose their instincts #cji prescience 7supposed7 of #aah prisoners when very young #ag reason of this ib4 virgin1 when first seek the drones #cd voice of1 authoritative #abh when imprisoned #ai ,reason1 human1 definition of #cce insect1 definition of ib4 presumptive evidence of #cbb difference between human and insect #cce observations of ,reid #cef of ,evans ib4 ,regurgitating power of bees #bbi ,reimar's opinion of memory #ccc ,reproduction1 organs of #bge ovaries #bgf oviducts ib4 ovipositor #bgg sperm-reservoir ib4 ,respiration1 organs of #bff evidences of their existence #bfg stigmata1 spiracles or breathing pores #bff trache ib4 ,riem's discovery #c ,salt1 of use to bees #ahf ,schirach's discovery #bj ,scouts4 ,vide ,providers4 ,secretions of bees #bgc ,sensation of bees #beh medium of its communication #bei its seat ib4 bees have a common sensorium ib4 evidences of it ib4 protracted vitality ib4 memory #bfj instances of ib4 ,reimar's opinion of #ccc susceptible of instruction #bfa instances of ib4 organs of #beh antenn #bfb opinions of their offices ib4 facts in support of them #bfc palpi ib4 uses ascribed to ib4 ,senses of bees #cjb smell ib4 instances of its acuteness #cjc1 et seq4 touch #cjg analogy from ants #bia taste #cji hearing #caj evidences of ib4 sight #caa not very perfect ib4 ,dr4 ,virey's theory #caf ,sensorium #bei ,separation of wax and honey #baf ,shed for bees #ii ,sleep of bees #bie ,source of bees-wax #cef ,source and nature of bees-wax2 pollen formerly supposed to be the prime constituent of it #cef striking difference between them ib4 wax proved to be a secretion from the body of the bee #cfb experiments and observations of ,huber1 ,thorley1 ,duchet1 ,wildman1 ,hunter and ,evans #cfb1 et seq4 regular division of labour #cfg hence wax-working and nursing-bees ib4 experiment to show the designation of pollen ib4 other sources of wax #cfh ,sphinx ,atropos4 ,vide ,hawk-moth4 ,spider1 anecdotes of #bfa fertilization of #ca ,sir ,joseph ,banks's #ccb ,stemmata #cae experiments of ,swammerdam1 ,reaumur1 c4 #cae ,sting of working-bee #bgg fatal consequences attending its use #bgh1 #bhc not apt to be used when the bee is distant from home #bhi of queen-bee #bgi her cautious use of it #bhf compared with sharp instruments ib4 ,stinging1 remedies for #bhd precautions against1 when attacked #bhe ,storifying #aji will not always prevent swarming #abd compared with single-hiving #abb ,suffocating or sulphuring of bees #agd ,sugar an excellent substitute for honey #cfj ,super-hiving #abd1 #aea ,swarming #aae causes of ib4 usual periods of #aai best periods of ib4 instance of very early ib4 disadvantages of early and late #abj heat produced by #ci1 #bgc bees not apt to sting at this time #ach striking instance of this #aci instance to the contrary ib4 importance of queen at the time #adj experiments in proof of it #ada1 et seq4 ,swarms1 number thrown off in a season #aae intervals betwixt successive #aaf hiving of #acf union of #aed causes of #aae period usual of #aah best #aai early ib4 late ib4 led off by senior queen #ca symptoms preceding #abg ,syrup for feeding bees #agi ,temperature of a well-stocked hive of bees #bgd occasional ditto ib4 ,touch #cjg ,transportation of bees #aei ,isaac's success from ib4 practised in ,egypt1 ,france1 ,italy and ,greece #aei-afa ,union of swarms or stocks #aed ,mr4 ,walond's method of #aeg methods practised by others #aed ,ventilation #bfh how accomplished ib4 ,vitality protracted #bei ,wax4 ,vide ,bees-wax4 myrtle #bbc its difference from bees-wax #bbd pockets #cfe working-bees #cff ,wasps1 formidable enemies of bees #aii importance of destroying queens in spring #de1 #bjf fact respecting them noticed by ,mr4 ,knight #bij extraordinary dearth of in #ahjf1 #ahae and #ahbd #ahf ,wildman's feats #aee ,wine-making1 general principles of #bdj elements necessary to its formation #bdj sweet ib4 dry #bda fining #bdf stumming ib4 ,wisdom as distinguished from ,knowledge #ccd ,working-bees4 ,vide ,bees4 ,,the ,,end4 -------------------------- ,printed by ,richard ,taylor1 ,shoe-,lane1 ,london4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber ,note ,minor typographical errors were corrected4 ,hyphenation was standardized to the most prevalent form used4 ,the poetry authors were moved to a blank line and right aligned4