if - ' *.l ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York State Colleges of Agriculture and Home Economics at Cornell University EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY tii.- H' ke JzJ/rine'. 0k n<. fM&$&nev < $m £j^a^ iJW^ A N ENQUIRY INTO THE Nature, Order, and Government o F BEES, Thofe Instructive and Useful INSECTS. With a New, Eafy, and Effectual Method to preferve them, not only in Colonies, but common Hives. A Secret unknown to paft Ages, and now pubiifhed For the Benefit of Mankind. Written upon OBSERVATION and EXPERIENCE, By the Reverend Mr. JOHN THORLE2", of Oxon. THE SECOND EDITION. Illuftrated with C o p p e r - P iL a t e s. LONDON: Printed by J.Waugh veiLombard-Jlreet, and Sold by N.Thqr- h£Y, at the Loci and Key, facing the Manfwn-boufe. M.DCC.LXV. turn them to their fellows, where they would be of more fervice than if kept feparate and by themfelves. By her Ladyftiip's permiffion I knocked one part of them down upon the grafs, and the remainder at a little diftance from the firft, taking that opportunity to feize the leader, which was eafily effected. I carried the beautiful crea- ture to the Lady, and other company then prefent. Af- ier a full view, they were all convinced this was the So- vereign. Having clipped the wings, I laid her down at a little diftance from one of the fquadrons, which were in perfect tumult and confufion, running to and fro, and fpreading themfelves about the grafs, fearchino- for their loft Sovereign. When they found their leader, they gathered all to- gether, greatly rejoicing. I afterwards moved this Bee from place to place feve- ral times, till, by marches and countermarches, all the company Their Loplty ty company faw thefe moft loving, loyal creatures, would by no means forfake their Queen. To prevent the ruin of the reft I took her away, re- turning her no more ; and after a fruitlefs fearch for fome time, they all fled back to the old hive ; otherwife both the Sovereign and fubje&s would moft certainly have perifhed together, as I have frequently obferved in like cafes. A young gentleman feeing the Bees crouding and cluf-* terihg about their Queen, when returned, concluded fhd was killed in the tumult, but was quickly convinced of his miftakej for taking her from the multitude, he faw her as ftrong and vigorous as ever. In September 1743, a large parcel of Bees, having (pent all their ftore, entering into my grand Apiary, and at- tempting to force themfelves into one of my hives, and meeting With a moft vigorous oppofitiori, wherein consi- derable numbers Were quickly {lain, the refidue fettled under the pan and hackle, where they continued with the commandrefs feveral days, pining and perifhing to- gether. Such inftances are full proofs of their loyalty. When their Sovereign is loft, nothing is feen amono- them buttumultand confufion, nothing heard but mourn- ing and lamentation ; whereon they either totally aban- don the hive, yield to robbers, or leave the treafure to the owners. — ^-But in cafe the fame is again found, how delightful is it to obferve, with what tranfports of joy, and triumphant melody, £he is embraced and welcomed, B and tS THE HISTORY OF BEES, and the whole empire is re-eftablifhed in perfea tran- quility ! May they not be our inftruclors? Why ftiould death, in its moft dreadful form, ever feparate the Chriftian from his adored and moft beloved Lord and Saviour ? Should it not fliame Chriftians to be outdone and con- demned by creatures, which have neither reafon nor confcience to conduct their actions. Come, likewife, Oh ! all ye Britons and Hibernians, and learn your duty to your only rightful and lawful So- vereignKiNG GEORGE. Thefelnfe&s, then, never rife in arms againft their Sovereign. Their Unity. A BEE without her company is an insignificant, im- potent, helplefs, ufelefs creature ; cannot work nor pro- pagate her fpecies, nor fecure herfelf from numerous ene- mies and evils* But what noble, excellent purpofes do* they ferve, thus incorporated, and by a focial fpirit thus ftr icily united together, jointly purfuing the public pro- fit and advantage ! They are all one, not only rnlove and loyalty, but al- io in work and labour, mutually and alternately perform- ing all manner of offices without diftinction, as natural mftincl: teaches them ; and in cafe of invafions, they all join their forces in defence of their Sovereign, their dear offspring, and treafure. Every their tfni'ty* iQ Every ftock of Bees, or colony thefi, may be confi- dered in this view, as a commonwealth ; their habitation is in common, food and provifion in common, their la- bours all in common, their care of pofterity in common^ and they fympathize with one another in common dan- ger, and with the greateft courage and refolution fight for one another. By their united endeavours they produce that afflu- ence -and plenty that conftitutes the riches of the whole fociety, and of every individual. Thus do they live in perfe£t peace and perpetual uni- ty, to Which the profperity and fafety of the ftate is en- tirely owing ; for civil wars, domeftic quarrels and divi- Cons, would infallibly overturn, and entirely fubvert the government.— —Who knows not the fatal confequen- ces of divifions, whether in families, cities, churches, or kingdoms ? If foul and body are once feparated, the man dies. If a city or houfe be divided againft itfelf it comes to def- lation} and a kingdom divided againft itfelf cannot ftand. Thefe little creatures, thus firmly knit together in fincere affe&ion, and combined in power, appear effec- tually fecured from all aflaults and enemies, excepting the fire and fulphur of their cruel mafters. How happy would it be for Great Britain, if all the fubje£b of King GEORGE were as firmly united in fidelity and affe&ion, and as true to one another ! B 2 Of ao THE HISTORY OF BEES* Of their Courage. ■ THEIR valour and magnanimity is equal to their loy- alty. 1 know no creatures that in refolution and cou- rage equal thefe. They are fo bold, daring and intrepid, that nothing can intimidate them : not an army in mar- tial order, with founding drums and trumpets, and roar- ing cannon, thofe meflengers of death. Once engaged they fear no enemies ; they regard no perfon : nor will they ever yield, till difabled ordeftroyed; they will con- quer or die. It is perfectly furprialng to fee fo much refolution and courage in fuch little, contemptible infe&s. They have fmall bodies, but great fpirits, and great wrath. " Ex- " afperate them near their hives, in their bufieft time of 44 labour, and you may as well take a bear by the tooth, " or offer to bind a lion with a fingle thread or hair, as by *' refiftance and oppofition to compofe and quiet them." Should any man queftion the truth of this, he may quickly refolve the doubt, and too late repent his foolifli rafhnefs and preemption. About twenty years ago a friend of mine, at a neigh- bouring village in this parifh, in the month of June, faw a fwarm of Bees entering into an high afh-tree, which was hollow, growing in the common field near his houfej no perfon laying any claim, or pretending any right to them, he was defirous to gain them for his own property. Whert Of their Courage. 21 When I underftood their fituation, and how they had pofleffed themfelves of fo ftrong an hold, and to all ap- pearance impregnable, I reprefented to him not only the uncertainty and improbability of fuccefs, but alfo the great hazard he would run in fo defperate an attempt, and that I would not be anfwerable for the confequen- ces. He immediately prepared himfelf for the encounter, putting on his hands a very thick pair of mittens, (ufed in making fences,) and a cloth over his head, with a thin veil upon his face, having before collected a fufficient quantity of nettles, as directed. Every thing thus in readinefs for a ftorm, I chofe a poft at a convenient diftance, and where I could be fafe from the fword of the enemy, determined to wait the event, and fee to which fide the event would fall. He engaged on very great difadvantages ; the ftrength of the caftle, and the number of thegarrifon many thou- fands to one, and where every common foldier was a perfecl hero, that would fooner die than yield j yet thus did Mr. Wifeman. Up the fcaling ladder goes my champion, very mean- ly armed, as before; and with a bruin of nettles in his right hand, thrufts his arm up the cavity, fwept them out at the paffage, when immediately they were about his head as thick as hail, maintaining his poft, till he had with the reft of the nettles flopped the paflage fo clofe that a Bee could not re-enter. This done, down he came furrounded with the ene- my, refolved to revenge fo great an injury, though with B 3 the 22 THE HISTORY OF BEES, the lofs of their lives. They fell upon him with thq greateft fury imaginable, but I durft not offer him any afiiftance or relief. They charged him in flank, front, and rear ; clung to him, like ivy to the tree j got under his covering, in- to his hair, and under his cloaths, and flung him from head to foot. It was a confiderable time before the battle was end- ed, and he had entirely difengaged himfelf ; at which time I fuffered him to come to me, when hundreds of flings ftuck in his hat, mittens, &c. befides a confiderable number left in his body, the poifon of which prefently inflamed his blood, and threw him into a violent fever, which threatened his life. The fever increafmg, his life hung in fufpenfe for atleafttwo entire days : toward the clofe of the third day it began to abate, and being a man of a ftrong and vigorous eonftitution, he recovered, and in a few days more was perfe&ly well, to the great joy of his family, and other friends. Some time after the battle, the fcattered troops being re-aflembled, rofe and fettled upon a little branch of the tree, which I gently cut down, putting them into a hive prepared for them, when not fo much as one Tingle Bee Shewed the leaft refentment. 1 was of opinion, that near one third was deftroyed in the engagement ; yet they gathered that Summer fuffi- cient to maintain them the following Winter, and for fome years did well, though a very dear purchafe. The more you refift, the more you enrage them, and when once provoked and engaged, they fcorn to capitu- late, Of their Courage. 23 late, to enter into a treaty, or yield to a truce. The moft prudent way is quietly to retire, in order to pacify them, and keep at a diftance till the affront is for- gotten. The fame courage and refolution is feen in their mu- tual quarrels and wars, wherein they neither give nor take quarter, not ceafing their conflicts till at leaft one party is fubdued. Of their Indufiry. IN painful, profitable labours, fure no creatures can be more conftant and indefatigable, and no lefs chear- ful are they herein than conftant. They have a natu- ral inclination hereto, and nothing is more odious to them than floth and idlenefs. Labour is their very na- ture, and greateft pleafure • an hungry or a thirfiy man doth not eat or drink with greater delight, than thefe admirable, amicable creatures, follow their appointed works, and proper employments^ This is their belov- ed province ; and now they appear to be in their proper element. With the greateft fatisfaclion and admira- tion have I frequently beheld them, moft faithfully, and as chearfully difcharging their feveral offices, without loofing the leaft opportunity. Reftraint at fuch a feafon would make them impatient, and confinement would be an intolerable punifhment. It is to thefe their united, moft earneft, conftant la- bours, their profperity and riches, are principally owing. The diligent hand maketh rich, B 4 They 24 THE HISTORY OF BEES. They are inceflant, as well as abundant herein, defift not, nor require a writ of eafe, while ability lafts, and the feafon permits and encourages, oftentimes venturing abroad with their wings rent and tore, in manifeft hazard of their lives, and never return. Though their labours are but of little more duration than fix months in the year, yet they may juftly be ac- counted the moft induftrious creatures upon earth ; the difcontinuance of their labours forfo long a feafon being owing not to their natural temper, but only to their want pf opportunity. They begin to work as early as the flowers appear, to furnifli them with fuitable and necef- fary materials, and they defift not till thefe ceafe. And in a honey-dew, in what a furprlzing manner do theybeftir themfelves ! employing all the forces that can be fpared abroad, when every Bee returns with its load, adding to the publ'tck treafure, with all poflible diligence and earneftnefs laying in fufficient ftore againft a fpendlng time they forefee approaching. The Winter is long, their enemies are numerous, and many months they want meait, the utmoft efforts are therefore necef- fary to prevent an univerfai ruin and deftruclion. They moft earneftly ftrive ; it is for their life. And if they are late fwarms, and the weather alfo dis- couraging, (as the end of the laft Summer) the greateft diligence poflible may be infuflkient to preferve them. Scarce one in ten of the laft year's fwarms, which came, late, could ftand. I have not above three left out of twenty-four. The continued and exceffive rains, which damaged the corn, either Of their Iudujlry. 2 K either warned away the mellifluous juices, or prevented their gathering, or both, and io occafioned the faid loffes. Yet the Bees are in fafety, united with other flocks. Thus conftant are they in their honeft labours, from morning till night ; and when the day is gone, their work is not done: they labour in the night, in building combs, (if they are new fwarms) or in filling the maga- zines with honey, or fealing the cells, miniftring more nutritive matter to the young brood, killing the drones, In a word: fuch is their natural temper and difpofition, that rather than be idle and inactive, they will be doing mifchief, viz. plundering and robbing their neighbours. To conclude j if ants are commended for their prudent pains, providing their meat in Summer, and gathering their food in harveft, though unferviceable to men ; how much more worthy of praife are thefe inftrudive, exem- plary infects, who herein fet us (both as men and Chris- tians) a pattern fit for our imitation? Go then to the ant, (or rather to the Bee,) thou fluggard, and learn wif- dom. My drowfy poitfrs, why jleep ye fo ? Awake my jluggijb foul! Nothing has half thy work to do, Yet nothing's half fo dull. the little Ants for one poor grain Labour ; and tug, andjlrive \ Vet O *6 THE HISTORY OF BEES. Yet we, who have an heatfn f obtain, How negligent we live ! Good God} on what a fender thread Hang everlajling things/ fh' eternal fate of all the dead, Upon life's feeble firings. Infinite joy >, or endlefs woe, Attends on every breath ; And yet how unconcerned we go, Upon the brink of death * ! The Ant has no guide to direct her what to do, no ©verfeer to obferve whether it is done or no, nor ruler to punifti her negligence and mifconduft; yet ads as if it were fo. How doth this aggravate our floth and im- providence, who have a guide to fhew us what is good, an infpe&or of all our actions, and a Lord and Ruler to whom we are accountable ! Shall we then be idle and inactive, and fuffer ourfelves to be outdone by fuch creatures as thefe ? Would not that be both our fin and ftiame ? In morning fair thefe latfrers cut the Jky, Thro' all the gardens and the meadows fly ; And Jree from envy, by their labours Jlrive, Which Jhall contribute mofl *' enrich the hive* * Dr. Watts' i Hy»ws } Lib, 2. H. 25-. yy. o Such Their Innacencf, iy Such is th 1 employment of their happy days', And fuch their title to immortal praife. Dimfdale on Bees. Their Innocency, THEY are alfo naturally innocent, inoffenfive, and patient. In their foreign labours, gathering honey, or other materials diftant from their hives, they are not ea- iily provoked, but will bear perfonal injuries and af- fronts with wonderful patience. In their honeft and lawful employments you may difturb them, drive them from place to place, and from flower to flower, without any refentment, and efcaping by flight, they follow their work elfewhere, in fome peaceable quarter j but he that affronts them in their own dominions, and in their bufy times of gathering, will foon be fenfible of their refent- ment, that they are implacable and unmerciful ; and if he be a fufferer; he may blame himfelf for his impru- dence and prefumption. In their own kingdom, and among thernfelves, they areftrictly juft; not the leaft injury or wrong done by any one member to another : but they are not fo to Gran- gers and foreigners ; to thefe they are moft notoriously and inexcufably unjuft, robbing and plundering from others wherever they have power, and whenever they find an opportunity. Their a$ THE HISTORY OF BEES. Their Sobriety, THOUGH they live in the greateft plenty of the moft delicious food, it cannot tempt them to the leaft excefs. What they have fo painfully collected, and moft carefully treafured up, is fparingly and prudently ofed, and with the greateft moderation and frugality. They do not prodigally wafte their precious fubftance in riot, revelling, drunkennefs, and fuch like fenfualities, as the fool in the Gofpel, faying, Soul, take thine eafe, eat, drink, and be merry. Language more becoming a brute than a man. But though they have at all times free accefs to this fulnefs, they never take more than a moderate repaft. Eminent felf-denial ! Never was one among them all feen difguifed or difordered through their moft beloved liquid. Their Chajlity. THE next endearing excellency wherein they are ex- amples to all, is their ftricl: and inviolable chaftity. As they fpend not their riches in riot and drunkennefs, fo neither in lull: and wantonnefs, or carnal concupifcence. As to the manner of propagating their fpecies, whatever pafles among them of that nature, it is entirely hid from the eyes of all men, and the moft ftricl:, diligent, and cu- rious obfervers and inquifitors have not been able to dif- cover it. It is a fecret, and will remain a myftery. Dr. Butler Their Neatnefs* 3^ Butler fays they do not copulate as other living crea- tures do *, Come hither all you drunkards and debauchees, and from thefe learn to be chafte and fober. No more dis- honour your bodies ; no longer degrade thofe noble na- tures God has given you. Meaner fouls than yours would ferve well enough for thofe bafe offices you commonly employ them in ; to eat, drink, and play- Are you capable of converfing with angels, and the God of angels, and of enjoying him ? place your fouls no more with dogs of the flock. Their Neatnefs. ANOTHER virtue that ihould not be paft over in filence, being a pattern to all, efpecially the female fex, ladies, gentlewomen, and others; particularly thofe whofe province it is to difcharge the offices of the kit- chen, &c. is their cleannefs and decency. They natu- rally abhor all that is filthy and impure, empty them- felves in flight, cleanfing their hives of all that is defiling and offenfive, carry forth their dead, and fuffer nothing to remain that is in their power to remove, and in the leaft difagreeable f. They alfo live upon the fineft food, thepureft honey; as they extract it from the flowers, they depofite it in their cells appointed for that purpofe, without any de- bating mixtures or adulterations. And • jipesjemine non coitu cmrfpivnt. \ Mundijpmum eft omnim hot animalium. 3© THE HISTORY OF BEES* And in their drefs and perfonal appearance they are tieat to a proverb. I write not this to countenance pride In any, but rather to recommend and encourage decent, modeft apparel in all. When the tenants of the place, or rather the natives and rightful pofieflbrs, are difinherited, either deftroyed without mercy, or incorporated into another family, and you invert the hive, to view the noble fabric, and rich furniture, what an entertaining profpecl: is there before you! nothing diforderly or indecent to be feen j nothing but the greateft regularity, purity, curiofity, elegance and beauty through the whole, moft delightful to be- hold I Sympathy, and mutual JJpJiance. WE may moreover obferve their fympatby and mutu- al affiftance. They moft readily and chearfully em- brace every opportunity of helping, and being ferviceable to their fellow-fubje&s ; as in invafions from enemies in killing the drones, burying their dead, and carrying away all that is prejudicial and provoking. When the labour or burthen is too much for a fingle Bee, how oft may you behold a fecond and a third joining their forces, one at one end, another at the other end, dragging the difagreeable objed out of their dominions. Their Th& Vigilance and Watchfuirufu 31 Their Sagacity* THEIR fagacity and prudence are obfervable* f Pru- dence metaphorically underftood.) They act by natural inftinct, as though they were rational ; not only providing in Summer their Winter ftores, but alfo places of re- fuge and defence, to which they may retreat when night or ftorms come; as rocks, hollow trees, &c. if their owners prevent them not by hives, as proper habita- tions. He that gave them their being has empowered them to act with as much fagacity, forefight and confiftency, for their own welfare and fecurity, as though they were rational creatures. ■Their Vigilance and JVatchfidnefs. THOUGH they are fuch excellent, exemplary, in* ftru&ive, and proStable creatures, yet have they many enemies; therefore they are moft watchful, keep a con- £ant guard to prevent a furprize, examine all pafTengers, and are prefently in arms, on the firft motion, difturb- ance, or alarm, their All being in danger. In their hives they are not always fafe; therefore conftantly upon their guard. Are all thefe virtues thus vifible in thefe infects that want reafon ; how much more mould they appear in men, and in Chriftians? Do they hate treafon and re- bellion* 32 THE HISTORY OF BEES, bellion, faction and divifion, cowardice, idlenefs, injus- tice, intemperance, impurity, indecency, felfifihnefs, im-* providence, and fecurity, why fliould we pra&ife them r* Let us leaf n the contrary virtues from thefe ififtrudive 5 infe&s. But how many of the human fpecies need t6 be fent to fchcol to Ants and Bees, which better anfwer the end of their being ! *Tbeir Love and TJnity. SINCE infinite wifdom fends us to Ants and Bees for inftruction, let us not difdain, nor refufe to learn from thefe infe&s, as foilows, viz. Love, with loyalty and fubmiflion to our only right- ful Sovereign King G EORGE, and all lawful power. The Grand Seignior, with all his janiffaries about him, is not half fo abfolute as the Queen of Bees; yet fuch is their innate loyalty, that they will, with the great- eft courage, fight to preferve her in fafety, Again ; Courage and refolution in defence of our civil liberties and reformed religion. Will thefe little infe&s, without reafon, fo freely venture their lives and eftates in defence of their Sovereign ? Let us then behave like ge- nuine Britons, and Chriftian heroes, in the caufe of En- gltjh liberty, truth, and true religion. Alfo diligence and prudence j feafonably providing againft a fpending time. Bees neither beg nor borrow, and fpare no pains in Summer to lay in their Winter- ftore. *fheit LSve and tjnity. 33 Sore. Herein they are patterns to us ; let us follow their example. As alfo in purityi They cannot difpenfe with any thing filthy or unclean, but caft forth whatever is defiling and offenfive. Let us learn to abhor and fhun all that is polluting artd impure* Heterbgeneals will not incorpo- rate; light and darknefs are incoriufterit. How can pu- rity and pollution dwell together ? Unity likewife, with love and peace. No divifiorisj contentions, or wars among themfelves, which fhame us, confidered either as fellow-fubjedts, or fellow-chrif- tians. Temperance and fobrlety in the enjoyment and ufe of our outward comforts. They are laborious to lay iii plentiful provifions, not for fenfuality and excefs, but only for neceflary fupport, the prefervation of health and life. Again ; patience and innocence. They are never in* jurious to any, except they are provoked ; and at a dif-» 1 tance from their hives, they will bear many indignities and affronts, without the leaft refentment* May we ftudy to be blamelefs where we may not be exemplary ; blefs thofe who curfe us, and pray for thofe who hate and perfecute us. Moreover fympathy and mutual amftance. They j help one another moft readily, both in their wars, and conftant labours, which fhould teach us brotherly kind- nefs and charity, C Finai!y 3 34 THE HISTORY OF BEES. Finally,. conftant watchfulnefs. Thefe infects have many enemies ; for which reafon they never give them- felves up to fecurity, but have their guards to watch the city, and prevent a furprize. How many are the Chriftian's enemies ? King David compared his to Bees.* How great is the number of infernal fpirits ? that are very powerful, politick, mali- cious, cruel, diligent, and ever watchful. Let thefe al- fo teach the Chriftian foldier, conftant watchfulnefs. f Hannibal at the gates was enough to awaken the citizens of Rome, and call them to their arms. The grand enemy (Satan at hand) fliould call the chriftian to his prayers, and keep him ever on his guard. Let us take Salomon's advice. % * Pfal. cxviii. 12. % Prov. vi. €,j t %i ■f Fas eft et ab Hoftt doceri. CHAP, 35 j or Form of Government. S the wifdom of Providence, which de^ mands our utmoft attention and regard, is moft obvious and vifible in innumerable o- ther inflances ; fo likewife in thefe little* yet moft admirable infects. They are aperfecl: monarchy, agreeable to the original plan : they cannot thrive, nor live, but in fociety, and under a Sovereign. And what would be the fate of this univerfal empire^ were it not for an infinitely wife and powerful fuperintendency ? The ants may be confidered as a democracy, or com- mon-wealth, having no overfeer, or ruler; but in thefe infects God hath fhewed to men the exprefs pattern of a* perfect monarchy ; the moft natural and abfolute form of government.* Without a prefident, or ruler, they will do no manner of work : neither gather wax, nor honey, nor other materials ; nor can they breed, and propagate their own kind, without fuch a commander. If a flock, they would yield to robbers ; or elfe languifh and pine them- fclves to death, and the whole fociety moft certainly perifh. C 2 This Dr, Butler's Foem, Monar, 36 THE HISTORY OF BEES. This proclaims the value of this royal infect, far fuperior to all the populace. Had you ten thoufand, or ten times ten thoufand of thefe common fubjedts, with- out a Sovereign, they would be but as fo many cyphers without a figure, of no fignificancy, worth, or fervice. Do but therefore fupply a languifhing flock as above, \vith a prefident or principal ; do but provide them, with a common parent, and it will prove as life to them from the dead ; infpire every breaft with frefh courage and vigour. No fooner is the news proclaimed in publick, but with furprize and pleafure will you fee the happy change ; inexpreffible joy reigning thro' the whole em- pire ; all hands are immediately employed, and their future, chearful, faithful, and conftant labours, will a- bundantly recompenfe your tender and companionate regard, your generous affiftance and relief, in their moft forrowful and diftreffing circumftances. And by this one kind a<5t and office, you prevent the total de- ftruction of many thoufands of thefe excellent crea- tures ; nay, of an entire kingdom or empire. Delight- ful thought ! Here it muft be obferved, that this Regent afcends not the throne as an ufurper j gains not the regal power and authority by conqueft or force of arms ; nor by ad~ts of tyranny, injuftice, oppreflion and cruelty; nor again by election, (as fome fuppofe) but by hereditary ri^ht; nature having entitled and advanced her to this fove- reign dominion, and imperial dignity. So that her claim is indifputable and unalienable, Butkr obferves, that the Queen Their OEconomy, or Form of Government. 27 Queen comes to the fupremacy by fuccefllon, or a judi- cious, prudent election; alfo by birth-right and fenio- rity. If that right be hereditary, why fhould it not be conftant and immutable ? As they cannot fubfift, much lefs profper, without a guide or ruler, fo neither will they admit of feveral. A prefident or governour appears abfolutely necefTary ; and no more than one will be tolerated among them. A plu- rality of rulers would introduce that confufion which would occafion the certain and entire deftruction of the whole ftate, unlefs thofe competitors and pretenders to the crown be prefently depofed. In all fwarms united, wherein are more or fewer of the royal iflue, all excepting one are flain and expelled, And in thofe wars and cpntefts, where the forces are near an equality, how fatal have I often found the con- sequence. Such fixed battles I have fometimes beheld, and that not for a few hours, but two or three days together ; till one fide has been entirely vanquifli- ed and fubdued, or both difabled ; and in fhort ruin- ed, and brought to defolation. But, united under one; Sovereign, they live iri perfect peace. Whence it is plain beyond difpute, this is their form of government, and this alone. A body without a head would be a monfter, and two heads to one body would be the fame.' Here I muft infert a paflage, which at firft fight feems to militate againft: the received opinion, and all the ob- servations I have made of their form of government^ as follows. C 3 Towards 38 THE HISTQRVOF BEES. Towards the end of March 1 743. walking at even- tide in my chief apiary, I obferved atfome diftance from the mouth of one hive, (all the other flocks being with* in doors, and in perfect peace,) a fmall clufter of Bees in fome commotion, which raifed my curiofity to fee what might be the occafion, juftly concluded it to be fomething uncommon; going directly to the hive, im* mediately I difcovered, among the croud, a royal corpfe carrying forth to burial. The number of the mourners attending the funeral did not amount to twenty ; I took the dead body from among them, after which, in a little fpace, they returned to the reft of their company. This being a circumftance I had never met with be- fore, I was in doubt for fome time about the event. If we conclude aright as to their form of government, viz. a perfect monarchy, I apprehend this flock, having thus Joft their Sovereign, muft of neceflity mifcarry. On the other hand, obferying no diforder or confuflon among them, as is ufual on the lofs of the Governour, I was in hopes they might be fafe ; this hope daily increafed, as by a ftricSl and frequent obfervation I found they conti- nued quiet and in peace. In about a week the weather proving more favourable, and inviting them to their moft delightful labours, thefe with the other flocks, began again to work, to collecl: necefTary materials, &c. by which I faw they were in-' deed fafe, and my former fears altogether without foun 1)? Form of Government', 39 faid hive ; or this Bee, thus discarded or deftroyed, of a late extraction. The former, fo direclly contrary to the general opini- on, obfervation, and conftant daily experience, is not to be admitted ; and fuppofing, yet not granting, it as mat- ter of fact, I query, why this fupernumerary fhould be fuffered fo many months, even all the winter feafon, and expelled only in fpring. It feems moft reafonable therefore, upon the whole, to conclude this Bee was born out of due time, produced too early for the fwarms, and for that reafon thus depo- sed. Upon which hypothecs our fundamental principle remains firm and unfhaken. But mould the contrary appear, it would be but a fingle exception from a gene- ral rule. Should any fuller evidence appear needful in what is now under our confideration, I will only add as follows, and with an -air of certainty and aflurance alfo, as final and conclufive, that in all the flocks I have for the fpace of thirty years united, ( particularly near fifty the laft Oftober) 1 never, on the ftri&eft fearch, found more than one Commander j which I think amounts to demonftration. Thefe infects then, without controverfy, are governed by a fingle Sovereign, as abfolute as ihe grand feignior himfelf. C 4 Net 40 THE HISTORY OF BEES, jtfor do the female troops of Thrace obey With >- humbler care, their Queen's defpotick fway.; Than the fulmijfive Bees the royal mind Mojl abfolute, yet always jujl and kind, Diftin Stive honours in the regent Jhine, To/hew the virtues of 'the fcepter 'd line j Superior goodnefs finds a jujl reward, jind publick love is a perpetual guard. But if by dath to the efyfian Jhade, IThe much lamented royal guejl's conveyed j Jnjlately pomp the honour' d body lies, ^nd all the city's fill 'd with mourrful cries. Dinfdale on Bees. i It! CHAP, ( 4i ) - CHAP. III. the Defcription, or Anatomy of the Bee. AM now entring upon a fervice, to which I am unequal, and much unqualified for. So many and fo great are the difficulties that attend enquiries of this kind, that a much abler hand, and more ingenious mind, is necefTary to remove them, and place what comes here under confU deration in a clearer and fuller view. After all our late improvements in natural philofophy, there yet remains thofe fecrets in nature, that the mod diligent, accurate fearch, and painful difquifition, will not be fufficient fully to difcover. In naturals, as well as fpirituals, we fhall know only jn part. And after we have gone the utmoft lengths pofiible, in fuch enquiries, there will be fame imperfec- tion in our knowledge, during the prefent depreflion of our nature. Many ufeful obfervations have been made in thefe lat- ter times, by the improvement of the microicope ; whereby a very great difference between things natural and artificial hath been made manifeft. There are fuch and fo great embellifhmentsand curi- ous inimitable embroideries in the fmalleft feeds of plants and 42 TfiE HISTORY OF BEES. and flowers, but efpecially in the feveral parts of ani- mals, fuch accurate elegant order, admirable beauty and fymmetry in the frame and compofition of the minuteft creatures, as no man could conceive or credit without beholding them. " More particularly thofe in human bodies. The ' *' confederation of which induced Galen to acknowledge u a Deity. " In his book de formation e foetus, he obferves more &i than 600 feveral mufcles in a human body, and at " leaft ten different intentions or due qualifications to be *' obferved in each of thefe. Proper figure, juft mag- " nitude, right difpofition of it's feveral ends, upper and " lower pofition of the whole, the infertion of it's pro- " per nerves, veins, and arteries, all which are to be lt duly placed j fo that about the mufcles alone, no lefs " than 6000 feveral ends or aims are to be attended to. " The bones he reckons to be 284. The diftincl fcopes Cf or intentions in each of thefe, are above 40. in all " about 100,000. And it is the fame in proportion * 6 with the other parts, viz, the fkin, ligaments, veflcls^ ct glandules, and humours ; but more efpecially with the " feveral members of the body, which do, in regard of " the great variety and multitude of the feveral intenti- " ons that are required in them, very much exceed the « c homogeneous parts. And the failing in any one of thefe < e would caufe an irregularity in the bpdy, which in rna- < c ny of them would be very notorious. «* And thus likewife it is in proportion with other t« kinds of beings, minerals, vegetables 3 but more ef- " pecially The Defcriptiony or Anatomy of the Bee. tv " pecially the fenfitive ; as fifties^ infects, birds and " beafts. Were we able, even by the help of glafles, to take the fulleft and moft ftrift furvey of this little animal, fo full of wonders, could we by any means enter into it's inmoft receffes, view it's almoft imperceptible parts, moft commodioufly adapted to their feveral offices their excellent contrivance, admirable contexture, their ele- gance and beauty, the minute particles of which they are compofed j together with all their fecret fprino-s of moft regular, artful, beneficial motion, and the various ufes, ends and purpofes they are appointed to fubferve it would appear the moft exquifite piece of workman- fhip. But as I pretend not to entertain the reader with an exact analyfis, or compleat anatomy of the body of this infect, I fhall quit that province to fome fuperior aeni- us, who more able to penetrate into thefe hidden and profound myfteries, may place them in a clearer and ful- ler light. The great and bountiful Creator of the world has not been wanting to any, even the meaneft of his creatures, having furnifhed them all with excellent capacities, and qualified them fuitable to the ftations he hath appointed for them j and wonderfully fitted them for all thofe offices he intends to employ them in. As a perfect infight into the mechanifm of thefe moft admirable infects is not abfolutely neceflary to the due management, or a right and profitable improvement of them, it may be fufficient to take notice only of their various 44 THE HISTORY OF BEES. various inftruments, organs, and utenfil?, fo well adapted to their refpe&ive offices and employments, neceffary for their maintenance and defence; or their principal -parts, which are very obvious to all obfervers, leaving the more minute and lefs vifible, (difcerned only by the help of the microfcope) to the more curious and fkilful anatomifts, to place in a better light. Defeription of the Bee, A Bee is an infe£t,* and a flying infect, confifting of three principal parts, viz. the head, the breaft, and the belly ; the firft is the leaft, and the laft is the largeft of the three. In the head (which is of a triangular form) we are to confider the external parts ; the eyes, the mouth, or jaws, the tongue or trunk, and the horns. Firft, the eyes, which are of an oblong figure, black like jet, tranfparent and immoveable, covered and de- fended from all injuries, by an horny tunicle, not eafily penetrated ; therefore an effe&ua) fecurity to their fight, which fome writers tell us is their weakeft fenfe, tho' fbmetimes I have found it quick enough to my forrow. The eyes ferve as two cheeks, and fupply their place on each fide. The fecond is the mouth, or jaws, opening like the mouths of fome fifties, to the right and left, ferving, in- ftead of hands, to carry out of the hives whatever offends, incumbers, or incommodes them. Here • Ab infeeare, The Defcription 3 or Jltkfltomy, of the Bee. 45 Here are their teeth, by which, in their wars and bat- tles among themfelves, they kill one another, and not with their flings, as fomeaflert, and others fuppofe. In the fpace of forty years, 1 never faw one of thefe infers fix it's fting in another, excepting once. Their chief ftrength lies in their teeth, which are ter- rible inftruments of revenge, and moft fatal j for all that are thus bitten mod furely die in^a fhort fpace : you may frequently obferve them with their wings difabled, or their joints diflocated, which they cannot long furvive j for their wounds are always mortal. The third is their trunk or tongue, which by reafonof its length, the mouth is incapable of containing ; but is doubled under the throat down to the breaft, divided in- to five branches, the outermoft being as a cafe to the reft. It is pliant and flexible to the laft degree, as well as taper ; and of fuch length, that the Bee may be the bet- ter enabled to probe and penetrate to the bottom of the flowers, and exhauft all the difperfed mellifluous juice for the publick fervice. From the fpungy nature of this probofcis, or polyglot, fprings that power of fucYion, whereby they are enabled quickly to abforb all thofe delicious fweets the flowers, &c. fo plentifully afford them ; which, as they are ex- tracted from trees, plants, or flowers, are directly con- veyed into the little bag or bladder, in the third and laft divifion, by means of two aqueducts, or little canals, which ferve alfo as two ligaments, to join the principal parts together 5 afterwards the honey is conveyed back asairt 46 THE HISTORY OF BEES. again thro" the fame pailages, and placed in the cells, of proper magazines, by the fame instrument that collected it. The parts that offer themfelves next to view, are the autenns, or pair of horns, with two join's ; the oneclofe to the head, the other near the middle, pliant and bend- ing every way j or elfe compofed (as they feem) of lef- fer joints, not to be feen by the naked and unaffifted eye. Thefe are the principal inftruments of feeling, efpecially ill the dark hive ; and are placed betwixt the eyes, near the middle of the head, whofe largeft dimenfion is it's latitude, as will foon appear upon it's feparation from the adjoining part, and yet is the feat of all thefe neceflary and ufeful members, befides the brain, beft difcovered by the microfcope. The breaft, or fecond divifion, is in form a fpheroid, [ or cylinder, of larger extent than the former, but fhort- cr than the latter, and in which are placed their wings and legs ; one above, and the other beneath. Their wings are pellucid and fhining, fixed two on the right, and two on the left; of a curious compofure, not unlike cyprefs, and much refembling the combs when firft form- ed 5 yet ftrengthened with many ribs, or fibres, run. ning thro' the whole. By the help of thefe they tranf- port themfelves at pleafure from place to place with fuch velocity, that in a few minutes they are a mile or more diftant from their hives. Thefe by conftant labour are quickly wore out ; and, when they appear rent and torn, are fure figns of their approaching death. Thefe parts prepared for flight, are fo firmly fattened, by a ftrong and knotty joint, that they are The Defcription, or Anatomy of the Bee. 4^ are not eafily feparated from the body j and of fuch an extent, as to cover the greateft part of the laft divifion. Underneath the breaft are the legs, fix in number, three on the right, and three on the left, but in length unequal ; the firft pair next the head are the fhorteft, the middle pair fomewhat longer than thefe, but fhorter than the third and laft. They are all pliant, having many joints; the firft ferve equally for hands and feet, and fo fcabrous, rough and jagged, that they generally fix upon a leaf or flower at the firft touch. And at the extremities of the paws, by the help of the microfcope, appear little hooks, whereby they fatten themfelves together, and cleave fo clofe to one another in their hives, and in fwarms, that they are not without fome difficulty feparated. " Their «* leo-s and feet, wonderful in their ftruclure and contri- - " vance, according to their different circumftances and " necefiities of life, afford a moft delightful variety of " objects ; particularly the fharp-hooked claws, which " enable them to walk on grafs, and other fmooth fur- " faces ; alfo a fort of fpunges, which preferve their " claws ftriking againft hard bodies, by the loft fieihy < s protuberances at the bottoms of their feet." The infide of the breaft, confifting of a porous, fibrous, reddifh fleih, contains the heart and organs of ref|>ira- tion ; beft difcovered by the help of glafles. A fmall contufion of this part, (including the vitals) occafions- death. The third and laft part is the belly; in which we ob« ferve fix rings Aiding one over another, refembling the fcales 4$ XiJ£ HISTORY OF BEES. fcales of fifhes, which have a_power to extend or contract thernfelyes as- there is occafion, by the help of proper mufcles nature has accommodated them with (tho' Mr. Rufden could difcover only three partitions, with filver coloured lines acrofs, p. 5. which at once fbews how incurious he was in his remarks, and how remote from the truth in his report.) And within thefe plaits they fix and carry their wax ; and not upon their legs or thighs, as the common people generally conclude, and moft authors I have met with have ignorantly, yet very confidently, aflerted. But of that more hereafter. This is the largeft ob- long, and in fome degree annular, taper, and piramidal. Within this laft divifion, or integral part, we find the bladder, or little bag, in which they carry both water and honey, conveyed thither at the time of gathering, thro* the narrow channel', which traverfe the head and breaft, and reconveyed to anfwer the feveral purpofes for which they are fo carefully and painfully provided. The bao- of poifon hath it's place here, near the root of the fting. Here likewife is the gut, which is only one fingle en- trail ; and when left with the fting, is certain death to the infect. The extremity of this laft part is the place of evacuation. The laft part to be examined, and the moft curious of all, is thefpear, which certainly hath a polifli exceed- ingly fine, and is without diiputc a moftexquifite piece, and the point imperceptible. This The Defcription, or Anatomy of the Bee. M This penetrating inftrument is diftinguifhed, andcom*" tnonly known by the name of the fling, by which thefe infedts defend themfelveS againft meri and beafts, and of- fend their enemies. It is of an horny confidence, and hollow like a tube, near the extremity of which is an orifice, thro' which the infect emits two darts, ftrong and pungent, tho' inex- preffibly fine. But to give the reader a fuller defcription of fo curi- ous an inftrument, I readily accept the afliftanceof thofe gentlemen who have, by the help of the microfcope, moft ftrictly examined it. M It thus appears to confift of three parts, viz. a " fheath or fcabbard, with two bearded darts, of an un- " equal length, which rifing obliquely, make the wound " the more painful, prevent the return, and render the " extraction the more difficult and troublefome. The " fheath terminates in a fharp point, and near the ex- " tremity a palfage opens, thro' which, at the time of ** flinging, the two bearded darts are protruded beyond « the end of the fheath; one of which being longer than ** the other, fixes it's beard firft, and the other inftant- " ly following, they alternately ftrike deeper and deeper CK into the wound, by their hooks taking fafter hold of «' the flefh when a poifonous juice is injected thro' the « c fame (fpicula) or fheath, from a little bag at the root " of the fting, which for a time occafions an acute pain« « ful fwelling." Mr. Derham* tells us, that in the fting of a wafp he counted no lefs than eight beards on the fide of each * Durham t PZy, Tbeo. p, 241 . D dart, 50 THE HISTORY Qf BEKS. dart, and Mr. Baker t has obferved the fame number m that of a Bee. ; . - The mufeles of the fheath are ftrong, by whieh it ea- fily enters the flefh of man or beaft. From the whole it is plain, that what appears. darting forth from the body of the Bee, is not properly the fting, feut only the fheath wherein it is inc-lofed. And it is ea- fy to tell when the infect fhoots forth this inffounaent, ( tho' neither feen nor feltj merely by the fmell, which is not in the leaft difagreeabte. Frequently I have obferved, when the infect hath mot forth this part, with an intention of revenge, or in it's own necefiary defence, at, or near it's extremity, a little drop of that poifon, whkh upon the firft puncture inft- jnuates itfelf into the wound. Whence it is not unrea- sonable to conclude, this alone, piercing or penetrating the fkin and £efh, is fufficient to- inject the faid poifon, without the afliftance of the two darts ; yet thefe may he infteumental in fixing it fafter in- the flefh ; as I have 6ft beheld it, when tore off from the body of the Bee, working itfelf ftill deeper into the wound. Thus have we (tho' very imperfectly) viewed their principal parts; the feveral organs, or implements, na- gure has furniflied them withal, for their fubfiftence and defence. No le& indulgent ha9 nature been to them in regard to their drefs } their very raimenty refembting the fineft velvet, bright and glittering ; their whole bodies covered with the moft curious hair, not unlike to the rjcheft &agg, which greatly embellishes eyery part, more ef- f §ateSs Mkr.f^io-, pecially *Ihe Defer iption) or Anatomy pf the Bee. $i pecially the breaft, and far excels what the greateft matter in that art can pretend to. How infinitely then do the fecret beauties of nature tranfcend and furpafs thofe of art ; which curioufly ex- amined, charm every ingenious mind, filling it with an inexpreflible delight and pleafure ! What is all the pageantry, fplendour and glory of an earthly court, to nature's fimple drefs and fecret beautiesj far more moving, and entertaining ! If King Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like a fmgle blade of grafs, or a flower 5 how much lefs like one of thefe curious infe£ts ! Examine the fineft and moft exquifite performances qf human art, and compare them with the productions of nature, arid how exceeding great will the difference appear ! and by how many degrees hath nature the pre- heminence I " The fting of a Bee, viewed thro' a microfcope, H fhows every where a polifh moft amazingly beautiful, ** without the leaft flaw, blemifh, or inequality, ending " in a point too fine to be difcerried j yet this is only the " cafe, or fheath, of two other instruments much more " exquifite, contained therein. " Dr. Power tells us,, hp faw a golden chain at Tre- " defcant's, of 300 links* not more than an inch in «' length, fattened to and pulled away by a flea, *' And Mr. Baker fays,* he faw near Durham-yard ** in the Strand, (which he examined with his microf- *' cope) a chaife, made by Mr, Boverick a Watch-maker, D 2 " with * Baker's Miircf, fag, 2$f 9 $t THE HISTORY OF BE£5. " with four wheels, and all the proper Jpparatus belong- " ino- to them, turning eafily on their axles ; together " with a man fitting in the chaife ; all formed of ivory, if and drawn along by a flea, without any feeming diffi- « c culty '■ And weighing it with the greateft Care, found the " chaife, man and flea, were barely equal to a fingle grain. « At the fame time and place, he alfo weighed a " chain of brafs made by the fame hand, about two in- «' ches long, containing 200 links, with an hook at one " end, and a padlock and key at the other, and found it « lefs than the third part of a grain. « c And fince that, (made by the fame Artift) he faw a c< quadrille-table, with a drawer in it, an eating-table, " fide-board- table, a looking -glafs, twelve chairs, with li fkeleton backs, two dozen of plates, fix dimes, a dozen i{ of knives, and as many forks, twelve fpoons, two ueen-Bee defcribed, »*--.-■ THIS ftately, beautiful, moft noble and glorious in-* fe&y in fo many things expreffing royal rrrajefty, has been for a great number of years my grand favourite. A Frincefs I greatly admire ; very highly value and efteem, and as juftly prefer before the many thoufands of her fubje&s. The reafons determining me to give her (in this hif- fory) the title of Queen, rather than King, in oppofition not % RpfJtn' fDifecv.pi, J, 3, 5 S THE HISTORY OF BEES. hot only to the ancient, but alfo fome modern writers, the readers will find, in the fection immediately following. . The management of Bees to the greateft advantage, particularly their prefervation in hives, at the time of u- nion, depending fo much on an ability to difcover and feparate this Sovereign from fuch a multitude cf fub- je&s, it is neceflary that I decypher and paint her in fuch plain characters, or difcriminating peculiarities, that e- very Bee-mafter may the better know her, and more readily diftinguifh her from all the reft, and take her from among the croud into clofe cuftody. Thus the poor Queen becomes a prifoner, and is de- prived of all her people and her liberty together. But till the owner is enabled by the following marks and cfoara&erifticks* or his own obfervation, thus to diftin- guifh her from the populace , I would not advife him to attempt an incorporation, which would be attended with fome ill confequences. The Sovereign may be known from all her fubjec~ts by the following criterions, or marks of diftindion, viz. by her bulk and ftature ; by her fliape or figure; or by her colour and complexion. j. By her bulk and magnitude ; being much larger than the commons, and longer than the drones, and her feveral parts in j aft proportion ; though fome authors fay her wings are fliorter, and others, that they are of the fame fize with the commons ; they do indeed appear Short, which is owing to the extent of the laft divifion, ^tt> upon the moft accurate and ftriel: examination, k appears that thofe authors were rniftaken 7 her wings ex- ceeding The Sovereign, or ^ueen-Bee defcribed. eg ceeding in length thofe of the commons j and fhe flies with as much celerity, ftrength and vigour* as they doi It is the fame as to her fpear or fting. Mr. Punhas tells us her fting is little, not half the length of a common Bee.* Mr. Rufden affirms it is not fo large, nor To long as the fting of a common Bee j f- after Pliny's Penna breviores. But both thofe gentlemen were miftaken - 3 her fting in reality being longer than o- thers. Others are of opinion fiie has no fting at all,J becaufe they never faw it. And for the fame reafon there arc men in the world, who fay there is neither God nor devil, angels or fpirits. It is very true that this fword is wore by the Sove- reign, rather for ftate, than fervice, having feldom ob^ ferved the royal infect to put it forth, tho' highly provo- ked thqreto. In Oftober 1743, 1 made the experiment upon feyeral, and found every one of them determine4 rather to, loofe her deareft life, than ufe the fword in her own defence, fo contrary to the principle of felf-prefer- vation implanted in nature. Her tongue is fhorter than that of the. Honey-Bees ; nature having defign'4 them only for foreign labours, but not the Queen, who is to live, as do other fovereigij princes, that are maintained and protected by their fub> jecls. Mr, • Pur. pag. 18. -f- Rufd. pag. 4. t Apum Reginaftimulo caret. Tbe Bees yield obedience to ber ittibmed S9- nitreignty. Memorable to this Purpofe was the Practice of a certain King of France, who entering a conquered City, expreffed his Clemency by this Symbol, via. a Coat full of Images and Pictures of Bees, with this Motto jjpon it, Rex Mucrititjaret. "the King dies not f pons ; and therefore the Bees cannot be the females, and the Drones the males.* The Drones are not ftrangers, or foreigners, but na- tives, and one of the three eftates of the kingdom, (as above) and bred in a comb and cells, more fpaoiousthart the reft, prepared on purpofe for them. What then is their peculiar province ? are they the Queen's royal cpn- forts ?f as fome conjecture that their principal employ- ment is to furniih the Queen with a numerous progeny, or people the ftate with fubjefts. By the anatomy of the Drone fome naturalifts have imagined, that they were the authors of generation. Yet that author obferves, that on the utmoft endeavours to find out, by prying with all attention imaginable what character thefe Drones maintained in the ftate ; all the obfervation he could make was this, that the Queen keeps herfelf retired in the upper chambers of the combs, and feldom makes her publick appearance. The learned greatly differ in their fentiments about thefe myfterious infects. Some late writers, as Butler, Purchas, Warder, affirms, the Drones are the males ; aud-the only males ; and though they arefeen to engen- der with the Honey-Bees, yet without doubt they are the Male-Bees. Other authors, efpecially the ancients, with fome of the moderns are as pofitive, that the governing Bees are the males. Thus fome conclude they preferve and propagate their fpecies by copulation ; which others queftion, and fome E 2 pofitively * General. Lib. % . c. I o. f Nat. Defy. Dial. 6. p. 89, 68 THE HISTORY OF BEES. pofitively deny : and if we admit that the governing Beet is of the male kind, then it is moft evident and certain that they breed without copulation. Since it is that Bee alone which difpofits in the feveral matrixes, or cells, that prolifick fubftance or matter, which after a few days quickens; appears firft a little worm, and at laft a per- fea Bee. The Philofopher* fays, it is improbable, that fome Bees fhould be males, and fome females : but herein he agrees not with the generally received and prevailing o- pinion, that the numerous fpecies of beings were at firft formed male and female; and infefls, like all other ani- mals, are firft produced by way of generation, and gra- dually come to maturity, whereby the fpecies is prefer- red. red before the Drones do appear, it is not pofiible they fhould be either males or females. That fuch an impoffibility may more fully appear, and fo give the argument the greater flrength and force, I remark, that to my own certain knowledge, the Bees fometimes breed all the fummer feafon without Drones. Several poor and week flocks, Which have but few Bees, and but little honey, have not any Drones among them all the feafon ; and yet thefe mail encreafe, profper, and breed Drones the following fummer. This is what I have many times obferved, know it by my own experience to be true in facl, and as fuch I pub- lifh it to the world, and for proof, I will give my readers only one inftance inftead of a multitude. Once I had a ftock of Bees, which not only bred great numbers all the fpring-time, but alfo fwarmed IB/ithout any Drones, as I was fully aflured from the moft ftricl: and conftant obfervation. Had there been ©ne fmgle Drone in it, my eye or ear would certainly have difcovered him. The Of their Sex, &c. n* The old ftock continued to profper, as before ; and in about a month or fix weeks after the fwarm, fome Drones (tho' few comparatively) appeared in it. The new ftock (or fwarm) increafed in numbers all that fummer ; but had no Drones amcng them till the following fpring. It is abundantly evident from hence, this ftock of Bees had no Drones among them for the fpaee often or eleven months. And I add further, that I have oft-times known weak flocks, that have not bred Drones for the fpace of about two years. From the premifes may we not very juftly draw thta conclufion, that Drones are not the males, neither have they any inftrumentality or agency in the generation of Bees. It hence appears abfolutely impoffible. And if this point is yielded us, then I am moft fully perfuaded that they do not breed by copulation j the common Bees being neither males nor females. Were hive or colonies ever fo well replenished with both thefe forts, they would not be able to produce one fmgle Bee without the principal or Sovereign. Without the Queert they cannot breed. It is well known that one fingle female-wafp, with- out the afliftance of the male, is fufficient to produce a whole neft of eight or ten thoufand in one fummer. Why might not the Queen-Bee effect the like, had na- ture furnifhed her with proper tools or inftruments for creeping the cells, and providing food for the young? but both thefe fervices are affigned to the commons, whofe 76 THE HISTORY OF BEES. ■ whofe property and peculiar province it is to prepare the matrixes, and colle& and adrninifter fit matter for the nutrition and growth of the worm, or foetus, till it comes to perfection, and is able to take care of itfelf, and then the moft diligent and tender nurfes are fully difcharged from their office. It is moft certain that the prolifick fubftance or matter which is depofited in the cells prepared and appointed for procreation, and which after a few days quickens, and appears a little worm or maggot, proceeds from the Queen-Bee alone. The queftion then, in order to decide the long dif- pute, viz. whether this Bee is male or female, is whe- ther the faid matter, thus placed in the feveral matrixes, is (in nature) fperm, or an egg. _ I will briefly propofe the reafons which have induced me to embrace the latter opinion againft the ancients, and fome moderns, and conclude tnis Bee to be afemafe, and the only female j viz. that manifeft and conftant identity, which is very obvious both in the dimenfions and form of it i together with it's different parts, or compofition. The identity, or perpetual equality of it's feveral di- menfions. Examine thefe moft ftri&ly, and compare them together as oft as you will, and no inequalities in their bulk and magnitude can be difcerned, no alterati- on or difference among them; they always appear the very fame. Again, its invariable form, (an oblong figure) may be fe further evidence. The moft diligent and curious at- tention Of their Sex, &c, , 77 tention will not be able to find out any the leaft altera- tion or difference here. The two ends are more protu- berant than the middle, which is more (lender, and this is the form of it in the belly of the infect, and even after it is depofited in the cells for feveral days, till the time it quickens, and appears a perfect worm. And thus we find it in the eggs of other infects and animals, which are remarkable for their proportions, different figures, colours, regularities, exact pofitions, &f • particularly the filk-worm. If then neither of thefe can be fafely affirmed, or fully proved, of the fperm in man or beaff, that there never is any difference, either in the quantity or the figure, then it muft be admitted that it is nothing but an egg, and confequently that this creature is of the female kind. But I add, as a further evidence in the cafe, and what is more fully convincing, it's different parts, which com- pofe the whole, and are eafily feparated and diflinguifhed from each other, as I have often proved, placing the in- fect upon my hand or an handkerchief, fhe has (moving upon irj laid feveral of thefe oblong fubftances, and to all appearance as full of fpirit and vigour as at firft. I have immediately examined thefe, which fiill keep their form, while you gently move them up and down ; but no fooner have I by the help of a needle penetrated the fame, but the whole moft plainly appeared, (even to the naked eye) to be a fluid, or liquid matter, contained in a thin fkin or membrane i and without any the leaft difficulty feparated the one from the other. Tho' Mr, Rufden tf THE HISTORY OF BEES. Rufden fays it is not an egg, but fperm, and hath no fkin to keep it in it's form, as the eggs of filk- Worms,* But how can we imagine this to be any other than an egg ; no fperm being endofed in a fhell or membrane, as this is ? whence it will naturally follow this is a female. Mr. Bradley fays it is an egg, formed by a thin, white, and fmooth membrane.f From the aforefaid remarks, I have taken the liberty to dignify this infect above the reft, and to diftinguifh her by the name of Queen, anfwerabie to the title-page. Yet after all that hath been offered upon this head, it feems to be a moot point, that will admit of a further debate. As Icannot attain to a full fatisfaction herein myfelf, how can I expect the arguments ihould admini- fter the fame to the readers, whom I muft leave to his own judgement and choice. Nor will I quarrel with a- ny perfon, though he may perhaps apprehend fomerea- fons for not embracing my opinion. Thus are we humbled thro' our own ignorance. Here we fee how our intellectual powers are confined and 'li- mited ; not an infect, a pile of grafs, a fingle hair, or an atom, but is enough to puzzle the fkill and wifdom of the greateft philofopher. And thus has God punifhed our pride and prefumpti- on in afpiring to be as Gods, knowing both good and e- vil. Since then there are fuch fecrets and myfteries in the kingdom of nature, as al'fo of providence ; why may there not be the fame in the kingdom t)f the Redeemer ? % or whv * Rufden,?. 4J-. -j- Bradley, p. 233. 1 * Tim. iii. x€. y.iyot. hi To T»s iwtttUs //.l/r«pit)9 s Of their Sex, &c. ^g why fhould thefe be any objection againft the chriftian religion, fo fully attefted by it's divine author, and con- firmed by fo great a number of inconteftible miracles, which were his credentials, the evidences of his divine miflion, that he really came from God, and was no im-> poftor or deceiver ? one remark more relating to the Drones fhall clofe this feclion. If thefe infects (whether males or females) minriter nothing towards the multiplication of the fpecies j if we allow them not to be the fathers of the family, the pa- rents of fo large a progeny : of what ufe or fervice are they in the ftate ? as nature doth nothing in vain, it is but reafonable to fuppofe they have fome peculiar pro- vince, or office appointed for them. In anfwer to which many, who have treated on this fubjecT:, tell us, they are, by their numbers and bulk to- gether, greatly helpful in hatching up and haftening the young brood. But this is not without objections. Hitherto I never could obferve any material fervice done to hives or co1o- lonies by their means. It is certain, that feveral fets or broods of young Bees are perfected, and engaged in the ufeful and common labours, before any of thefe appear in the hive, or have an exiftence ; no Drones being produced till the latter end of Aprils or till May; many times not before Jung, or July ; nor all that fummer in poor and weak flocks. And it is a very frequent and common obfervation, and experimentally known, not'toafew,' that-confider- able numbers are hatched; and the hives well repleoifh- ed jB.o THE HISTORY OF BEES. ed with common Bees, and ready to fend forth new co* lonies or fwarms, before thefe are in being. How then is this poffible ? I wifli thefe wife and penetrating gentle- nien had better inftru&ed us* and let us into the profound myftery, and told us how, or by what fecret and cunning art they contributed fo abundantly towards the lives of others, fo many months before they had received any of their own. At that time, and all that time they were mere nullity, non-entities, and had no power of acting.* How highly, how infinitely obliging to the world, had but thefe miracle-mongers communicated their Nojlrum to others, laying fo great a myfiery open to mankind, which now muft remain juft as it was. Again I object, it is as univerfally known, that the Drones are entirely expelled the end of July, or the following month, and yet the Bees continue their breed- ing thro' Auguji, September i and part of Oclober, if the feafon is encouraging. In one hive, which I took at Michaelmas- day laft, I found confiderable numbers of young brood in feveral combs in different degrees of perfection (tho' all of them clofe fealed up j) fome maggots, fome nymphs, and others perfect in all their parts, ready to make their publick ap- pearance, or actually difcharging themfelves from the difagreeable confinement. Befides, it ought to be here remarked, that even thofe flocks, which have no Drones among them, breed their young (proportionably to their numbers) with equal ex- pedition and difpatch, with thofe which are full of Drones, as * Ex nibilo nihil ft, 2}uod non eft non operate Of their Sex, &e. $1 as I am able to atteft from my own perfonal and multi- plied experiences; which methinks tenets not a little to diminish their nutrimental influences. Nor mould it be forgot, or overlooked, that feverat weeks before their total expulsion, they gather together irf a diftin£l body by themfelves, feparate from all (he reft ; as tho' they entered a moft folemn proteft againft all fu- ture converfation with their ancient friends and allies. This hare I frequently feen towards the end of the fea- fon at the back-window of the boxes j and others may do the fame. Let the reader then inform me, what manner of in- fluence they can have in the hive, in order to accele- rate, or haften the brood ; or whether any at all. I will enlarge no further upon this article, fo fubje glutinous nature ; of a deep red, tranfparent ; and would rather diffolve and melt in the fire, than crumble to powder. But that this matter is put into thofe matrixes firft, and the fperm of the King- Bee injected afterwards, ac- cording to Mr. Rufderiy I take to be an error. * One thing here feems not fo eafily to be understood, namely, how the matter thus prepared for the nutrition of the royal foetus, and formed into a proper liquid, fiiould be retained in thofe orbicular cells, being built perpendicular, and the mouths pointing, and hanging down dire&ly towards the ftool or floor ; turning up an hive full of combs, thefe royal pavillions will immedi- ately prefent themfelves, appearing in the form and pofi* * Mr, Rufden,?. 74.. Their Method of Generation. qj tion now mentioned ; yet the thing is true in fa'ftj and may bz accounted for. It is alfo an uncertainty what numbers of thefe are bred in a fingle hive or colony. Dr. Butler f tells us, he once took up eight of thefe together brought out of the hive, when two at leaft were gone forth with their iwarms, and that in 1633. as he received it from a good hand, there were bred in one hive no lefs than fcvente?n. I dare not deny the truth of the report, but take the liberty to obferve, that fome circumftances in the ftory make it (with me) the lefs credible ; for inftance, that two went out with the firft or prime fwarm ; which I never found, unlefs once or twice in forty years j five brought out dead before the fecond fwarm rofe, with which five more were brought forth j and the fame num- ber brought out dead the next day ; and yet one conti- nued calling the day following. I only note, it is not ufual with the Bees to expel the royal illue, till after the fwarms are all come forth j nor are they fo long in ex- pelling thefe fupernumeraries ; the doom being once pafled, the execution is quickly accompliflied. It is above twenty years ago firice one of my colonies' rofe contrary to expectation ; but I prefently found it was entirely owing to my own mifmanagement and neglect, in not fupplying them time enough with another bv x. About ten days after, the caft arofe, which I prefently returned to the colony^ and which I was very fenfible would greatly fuffer by taken away from it fuch a body, after the fwarm was gone. After they were thus return- G edj ■\ Dr, Butler, p. 4„ 98 THE HISTORY OF BEES. ed, they rofe again four times, and I returned them as often ; at twice I took from them two commanders, four at two other times, and another time three; being nine in all : after which they rofe no more. The remaining Sovereign, and the other which went out with the fwarm, made them up eleven in all, which I concluded was the whole number bred in that colony, not finding any o- ther expelled and (lain. But as a fingle flock feldom fwarms ofcner than twice or thrice, and a few of the blood royal are fufficient, it is very probable the number feldom amounts to fo many. Our numbers thus multiplying, and hives filling a- pace, and ready to grow up into more families, in i warms fcon expected, the next thing to be done, is to provide them convenient habitations ; which leads them to take a furvey of their Ikill in geometry and aYchitec- ture in the following chapter. CHAP. ( 99 ) CHAP. V. Of the Bees Works^ &c. p^? HE more agreeably to entertain and gra- tify the reader, and proceed the more re- gularly, I will begin with the new fvvarms^ and follow thettx gradatim thro' the whole gathering feafon. No fooner is the fwarrri of Bees hived, but they be- gin to build their combs, whether for increafing their numbers, or tfeafuring up their honey. So earned is their application hereto, that in a week's fpace (the wea- ther favouring) the hive fhall be half, or two thirds filled with combs ; which furely mult be on all hands acknowledged an inimitable performance. A diligent obfervance of the moft admirable ftruiSture* it's regular contexture, it's ftrength, beauty, and defigned ufefulnefs, mult force one to acknowledge it a moft curious and in- comparable piece of architecture ; which^ however it may be imitated, can never be equalled, much lefs ex- ceeded, by the greater! artift among mankind. But the firfl: thing here that demands our attention, are the materials of which this noble fabrick is compo- fed. Some ancients were of opinion, that fome tough and glutinous matter fthey knew not what) was the G 2 foundation ioo THE HISTORY OF BEES. foundation of their work. And I find fome of our mo- derns inclining to the fame opinion. Mr. Bradley fays, that they may fix their work at the top of the hive with more folidity ; they ufe a tempered wax ; almoft like glue.* Bees gather two forts of wax ; one brown and gluey, which ferves to flop the holes, and fix the ho- ney-combs to the hive ; the other for building their cells. A later writer has told the world, that the material are compofed of nothing but glue and wax, which they extract from various flowers, f Had he faid the materi- als had been wax, he had been nearer to the truth. Whatever thefe, or any other gentleman may fancy or affirm, I do upon the fulleft evidence declare, that the combs, both in their foundation and fuperftruc~hire, are framed of nothing but pure wax. I dare appeal to any judicious and impartial perfon, who will but make trial for the truth of what I affert. Let it but be exa- mined by fire, or in any other method, and it wiil be found to be wax, and nothing but wax. The manner in which the edifice is carried on and accompliihed, together with it's form, comes next to be confidered. Their manner of building is greatly diffe- rent from that of the wafps, as well as the materials. The wafps build their combs horizontally, placing them one above another, in feveral ftories, fupported by numerous and ftrong pillars j in which, and all their o- ther works, they ufe the utmoft application and dif- patch. But * Bradley's Hufbandry, p. 225-, 238, •J- Nat, Qelin, p. 97, 103, 104, Of the Bees Works, &c. 101 But the delightful Bees build their combs perpendi- cularly in a right line, hanging from the fummit, or top of the hive, down to the bottom. They lay the found ation of every comb at the top, or upper part of the hive, and carry it down to the floor, from fide to fide, fattening every comb to fomething fo- lid, and able to fupport it. How they manufacture the wax, fix it to the hive, and fafhion it in fo curious a manner into combs and cells, we cannot eafily account for. Yet we fee they are per- fect matters of their art, and underftand how to temper the wax by heat, or by fome other means mollifying or making it pliable and fit for their purpofe, and to anfwer very valuable ends. The principal implement employed in fabricating their combs, appears very plainly thro' the glaffes, to be their mouths or jaws. I have frequently been a diligent fpec*- tator at fuch times, yet either thro' the number of Bees about it, the continual motion, feeming confufion, orelfe the expedition, and quick operation with which their work is carried on and finifhed, I never have been able to enter into the fecret, and therefore muft let it pafs as impenetrable. T Dr. Butler obferves that the artificial cells, which ferves both for ftore-houfes for their treafure, and nefts or nurferies to breed their young, are made of matter they gather from flowers, and wrought into combs ; but done fo nimbly, that it can fcarce be perceived. Thefe cells fure may be efteemed to be one of the rnoft furprizing and exquifite pieces of workmanfhip. G 3 They i02 THE HISTORY OF BEES. I ■> | ■■ . \ > ■ They are all hexagons, built on both fides of the comb,, but a cell on one fide is not placed directly' againft a cell upon the oppofite fide ; but the bafis of a cell on this fide anfwers to three third parts of the hexagonal bafis of three contiguous cells on the other fide, meeting all in a right angle in the center of the oppofite bottom, which ferve both for elegance and fecurity, ftrength and beauty. Thus they appear mailers of geometrical meafures and inventions :' all the cells thro' the hive are regular and perfect hexagons, and equilateral ; are fupports to each o- ther, and wifely and artificially contrived ; the wax be- ing diftended into the fineft and moft curious membrane poffible, which framing numerous cells moft clofely con- nected with one another, the whole fabrick is effectually fupported. It is furprizing to fee fo msny thoufands of thefe in- fects, merely by natural inftinct, framing their combs with fo great a curiofity, regularity and order. But a ftrict and diligent view of one of thefe combs newly e- re&eclj will enable the reader to form a more juft and perfect idea thereof, than the fulled defcription given of it by the pen. Moreover, there is this advantage in it's figure, that there is not the leaft room loft ; no vacuity or empty fpace thro' all the hive. And fuch is the delicacy and finenefs of the compofure, that when the cells are filled with honey, they appear as one fingle and folid body. The fquare, together with the equilateral triangle, have the like advantage ; yet feem lefs capacious and extenfiye, this figure having a greater affinity with the fphere. Xh? Of the Bees Works, &c. 103 The combs are alfo (generally) placed at equal dif- tances, there being only room for two Bees to pafs a- breaft, without any needlefs empty fpace. Wax is one of their chiefeft manufactures, and abfolutely necefiary to treafure up their honey, and for brood. But here I find feveral of our modern writers far from truth in their reports. Mr. Bradley tells us, that from the flowers they ga- ther the wax with the hairs, which cover their Bodies; and when they return from the fields, you may fee their hairs full of fmall particles of wax like duft. When they are got into the hive, and give notice to their com- panions, three or four of them come and take each a fmall quantity of the wax, with their jaws, till no more remains, when they return into the fields for a new har- veft. Or elfe the laden Bee finds out a cell, where there is neither honey, nor worm, and there leaves thofe bodies of wax. He likewife adds, as one Bee goes, another comes, to temper the wax till the hive is almoft full of this fort, placed fometimes in lays of divers colours, as white, yel- low, red and brown, according to the flowers or leaves from which they gather it. And in feveral parts of the hive, a great number of cells are found full of this wax, which are as magazines, to which they have recourfe upon occafion. Finally, the wax in the cells, which at firft is of different colours, is always white immediately after the honey-combs are built.* How has this author in this account betrayed his great ignorance, and abufed his reader ? G 4 That * Bradley p. 239, 24.3* ?04 THE HISTORY OF BEES. That fuch quantities of wax are depofited in the emp- ty cells, I never, thro' fo long an acquaintance with Bees, could obferve, and know it is a great miflake, nei- ther is the wax, as gathered by the Bees, of different colours, but always white, and the flighted: examinati- on would have been fufficient to have convinced him he was in an error : nay the diverfity of the colours a- lone, if attended to, would have done it. And as there is fo.manifeft and great a contrariety in nature between duft and wax, it mufl: be an unpardona- ble weaknefs in fuch a profeffor thus to confound them. That the wax placed in the cells mould be of fuch vari- ous colours ; and immediately (when formed into combs,) white, is very ftrange and unaccountable. In this article we alfo find a modern French author guilty of the fame error, telling us they always keep a confiderable ftock of this in referve, colled; it in their hair, with which their bodies are plentifully covered o- ver, and it is agreeable, to fee them roll in the yellow duft, which falls from the chives to the bottom of the flow- ers, and then return inverted with thofe grains. They alfo, according to him, carry away the little particles of it with their jaws and fore-feet. Thefe collectors at their return have proper affiftance ancj attendants ready at the hive door, on purpofe to eafe them of their loads, as foon as they arrive ; whereas the former repair to the field agju'n, in order to collect new |tqre, while thofe which helped to unload, convey their charge into the general magazine j yet fome of the other convey Of the Bees Works , &c. 105 convey it to the apartments, and unload it themfelves.* But that is a work of fupererogation. And why not all of them ? all this is fo entirely fancy, and far from facl:, as to need no further confutation. That 1 may more fully fatisfy my reader in this point, and at the fame time mew how remote the faid authors were from truth, I fubjoin the following remarks. It is fo fully manifeft and obvious, that what is for feve- ral months together fo plentifully imported into the hives, is not wax, nor hath the leaft affinity with wax, that it is not to be contradicted, tho' feveral of our writers contend for it, and it is generally accounted fuch by the populace. Both Butler, Purchas and Rufden, have fully confuted this vulgar error in the particulars following. When the hives have been for a year or more filled with combs down to the floor, and there is no more room to build, they yet carry of this faid matter in the greateft plenty ; and even when no more wax is wanting, only to feal up the honey, and the breeding cells, for which a very fmall quantity is fufficient. Further : do but examine the faid matter with your fingers, and you will prefently perceive the particles to feparate from each other, and crumble to powder, where- as wax, on the contrary, will adhere and cleave too-e- ther : or if you carry it to the fire you fliall fee it turn to afhes and dufr, when the other fhall melt and diflblve. A plain evidence it is not wax ! The diverfity again of it's colours is an additional proof of what 1 am difputing for. Senfe itfelf is an e- yidence. + Nat. Delia, p, :o6. to6 the history of- bees. vidence. Wax, both as it is gathered, and wrought, into combs, is always white, as any perfon may^eafily fatisfy himfelf, and nothing but the age of the combs, and breath of the Bees, changes it's colour. Moreover, it is eafy to obferve, that new fwarms for the firft, fecond or third day, carry in little or nothing of this faid matter ; when in that fpace of time, they have (inviffbly) conveyed into the hive fufficient quanti- ties of wax, formed into feveral large combs. On the contrary it is certain, that when they carry in mortar bundantly of the fa d matter, they colle<3: the lefs wax, and the-reafon is plain : the new fwarms want the wax, and the old flocks Want food and nourishment for their young. This might fatisfy any perfon that this is not wax, yet I will add a farther proof. For feveral feafons after I became a Bee-mafter, I was very defirous and dili- gent to find out how, or where, they brought home their wax, well knowing that grofs matter to be of a very contrary nature, and applied to fome other ufe, but was not able, for a confiderable time, to enter into the fe- cret. At laft, viewing a hive of Bees very bufy at labour, I obferved one Bee among the reft as fhe fixed upon the alighting place, of an unufual appearance ; upon which I feized her dire&ly, before fhe had time to enter the hive j where, with a very fenfible pleafure, I found what I had (till then) been in vain fearching for. Upon the belly of this Bee, within the plaits, were fixed no lefs than fix pieces of folid wax, perfectly white and tranfpa- rent. Of the Bees Works, &c. 107- rent like gum ; three upon one fide, and three upon the other, appearing to the eye equal in bulk and gravi- ty ; fo that the body of the Bee feemed duly poifed, and the flight not in the leaft ob.ftructed by any inequalities. Here have I found it at other times ; and once I took away eight pieces together, and I knew that it was wax, and nothing elfe. Will not this pafs for demonftration? fome, who have wrote upon thefe infects, have obferved, when the Bees return to their hives laden with wax, in prder to difburden themfelves, they gVe notice to their companions, when three or four come, and take each a fmall quantity of the wax with their jaws ; and after them feveral others, who take their {hare of the lading, till no more remains ; and then thefe porters go back in- to the fields to fetch more.* A Bee at work on the combs, requiring honey, it is offered her by another coming home, and Ihe receives it with her trunk with- out fpilling. For what reafon (honey being at hand) I know not, I only reply, I believe not the report, (tho' it might he that author's opinion) fince all my obfervations of Bees have never difcovered any fuch practice among them. And tho' I am far from afHrming it as matter of fact, yet I propofe it as my humble opinion, that thofe very Bees that gather the wax, do alfo themfelves manufac- ture, and frame it into Combs. It feems to me moft rea- fonable fo to think. But I leave every reader to his own judgment. CHAP. * Bradley , p. 24*, 2,47 , io8 THE HISTORY OF BEES. c H A P> VI. O/ - *&? Swarming and Hiving of Bees. HE principal reafon why they fwarm is «« the want of room. Therefore in co- " lonies, where they are not at all ftrait- " ened, they feldom or never fwarm, « c except (fays Mr. Rufden) thro' diftafte, difturbance^, €i or mifmanagement. " And in hives they fwarm not merely for want of * f room, without other concurring circumftances ; fuch " as a king in T readinefs ; multitude of fubjedts, prof- " pe£t of plenty ; together with weather, which is in- * e viting. Every fwarm is compofed of all the three forts, viz. a Queen, great numbers of common Bees, both old and young, and Drones, whofe numbers are uncertain; fome fwarms have more of thefe than others. Dr. Butler is of opinion, that thofe fwarms which have moft Drones will moft furely profper, but I doubt it, till I fee it pro- ved. The multitude of fwarms does not predict or promife the profperity of an apiary. Witnefs the laft fummer ; m which 1 had no lefs than 86 or 87 fwarms; a confide - rable number of which at Michaelmas, had not honey half enough to maintain them till the fpring. The Of the Sivarming and Hiving 6fBm. 109 The old flocks alfo fending forth fuch multitudes (fwarming moft of them twice, and many of them three times) they were greatly reduced in ftrength and in ftore. Many about the country are already dead, both old and young; and no doubt but many more will yet die. Neither do the earlieft fwarms always prove the beft, or profper moft, as early as the latter end of Aprils or the beginning of May. The weather often afterwards is very wet and cold, (huts them in, and prevents fo long their labours, that I have frequently known even thefe, either totally deftroyed, or exceedingly reduced. But fwarms at the latter end of May, or beginning of July, mail profper, and anfwer the owners expectation. Three years ago I had a fwarm upon Midfummer-day^ which laid in a fufHcient ftore of provifion for their fup- port, till the fpring following, and they fwarmed that fummer, either the laft day in May, or the firft of June, and every fummer fince. And it is more than 20 years fince I had a fwarm the beginning of July, which flood thro' the enfuing winter and profpered well. When you obferve your hives well replenished with, Bees, and begin to lie forth about the hive's mouth in the day-time, and go in at night, and alfo the Drones appear, you may expect fwarms, efpecially if the weather be clear, calm, and warm \ for in a cloudy, wet, and ftormy feafon, the firft fwarms feldom or never rife, tho' the cafts, or fecond fwarms, often rife in indifferent weather. And no THE HISTORY OF BEES. And whenever you fee them gathering together in lit-, tie clufters upon the hive, or ftool, you may infer they are preparing and even ready for a dance j and may ex- pect them to rife prefently. Get your hives in readinefs, and of different dimenfi- ons, that you may the better fuit them to the fwarms. To over-hive them will be a great difadvantage. If un- der-hived the prejudice is the lefe, and it is eafy to give them enlargement. An hive holding three pecks, or two pecks and an half, will be a fit fize for an early fwarm of eight or ten thou- fand Bees. An hive of lefs meafure will be large e- nough for thofe that come later in the year, and in lefs numbers. It may perhaps be of fome fervice here to acquaint the reader with an experiment I made in Ottober 1743. when putting the Bees of a fmall and late fwarm, into an empty hive, and afterwards, upon a table, I took a particular account of their meafure, weight, and num- ber ; in meafure a quart, in weight one pound and a quarter, in number two thoufand. I firft imprifoned the Queen, and having a perfon at hand to affift me in the operation, particularly in counting them over, which took up the greateft part of the time, we had gone thro* the whole trial, and perfedly finimed it, before the leaft fign of life could be ken in one fingle Bee. But in a few minutes more, fome figns of life began to appear firft in their moving legs, and then in other parts; upon which I put them into another flock, where they are ilill in being. From Of the Swarming and Hiving of Bees. jfj From hence it is eafy to compute the number of Bees in a fwarm, of four or five pounds in weight, viz, eight thoufand, or upwards ; proportionable to which would be an hive of fuch an extent. Your hives thus at hand, you may drefs them agreea- ble to your own fancy. I rub mine only with a fmall handful of fennel, dipped in a little alefweetened withfu- gar ; fometimes with nothing at all, except it be a new hive. It is a common practice with moft to place flicks in the hives, the better, as they fuppofe, to faften the combs* But if your hives are of a right form, and nar- rower at the mouth than the middle, I fee not any the leaft occafion for fuch a precaution. The Bees will themfelves efFectually fecure the combs from falling. Befides, you will gain this advantage by this means, *. e. taking out the combs full of honey, in a manner entire, and not broke in pieces. The two principal fwarming months are very well known to be May and June. As to the hour of the day it is not certain -, I have known them to rife near eight in the morning, and after four in the afternoon ; but moft generally between eleven, and one or two. It might not be amifs to have a watchful eye upon them a good part of the day. And now be fure to give them door- room enough, opening the whole pafTage for them, tho' it be a week or ten days before the fwarm comes. As foon as your fwarm is fettled, hive them to pre- vent any other joining with them. The method of hi- ving them, you will learn from their place and manner of ii2 THE HISTORY OF BEES. of fettlement. A twig or fmall branch you may gently cut off with a fharp knife or fawj or fhake them into the hive, fetting it down upon a cloth, ready fpread upon the ground, with a little flick placed acrofs to bear up one fide, to give them the liberty of paffing in and out. If you make them into an empty hive, and many (as is ufual) return to the place, repeat the a&ion as often as there is occafion ; knocking them out of the empty hive upon the cloth, you will with pleafure fee them croud to their companions in the other hive, like fheep into a fold. But if they fettle, as fometimes, upon the body or large arm of a tree, &c. the beft way is with a, brufh, or a little handful of fmall branches, to fweep them into the hive. Being thus fixed in a new habitation, in the evenino- when they are all within and quiet, carry them to the place you have appointed for them ; leaving them no paffage into or out of the hive, but only at the door, which may be gradually reduced to a narrower com- pafs. When they are fwarming, and dancing a Levalto in the neighbouring cloud, I never entertain them with a- ny fort of mufick, as do the country people, which drowns the delightful and more melodious founds of the Bees. Nor is it of any fervice. I have often known the Queen fall upon the ground, not being able to fly, thro' fome defect in her wings ; then the fwarm returns home again ; and the next time they rife, they have another Sovereign. I have known the Their LangUagt. 12 j the fwarm ftay in the hive near a fortnight before they rofe again ; and perhaps waited for a leader. Sometime* they rofe no more. The poor difabled* unhappy Princefs I have picked up in the grafs, but never without fome attendants, whom nothing but violence could feparate from her* Their Language* AS to the time of fecond fwarms, we (generally) fix it to a day or two, and know when to expect them, by means of thofe diftinct, peculiar, and mufical notes> which are always heard two or three days before they rife. Bees certainly have a language among themfelves which they perfectly underftand, tho' we do not, or at beft very imperfectly. Eight or nine days after the prime fwarm is departed, one of the young Princefles, addrefiing herfelf in a very humble and fubmiflive man- ner to the Queen -mother, petitions for leave to with- draw, and erect a new empire, with a felect body of the populace. The Regent for a time feems filent, and for a day or night there is no anfwer, nor any grant given ; however, the young Princefs (bent on a crown and kingdom) con- tinues her fuit, and at laft fucceeds. The fecond night you may hear the Queen, with a very audible voice (be- ing an eighth) giving her royal grant, and proclaiming it as by found of a trumpet thro' the whole kingdom. Her voice is a grant, her filence a denial. And the day H following ii4 THE HISTORY OF BEES. following (the weather being tolerable) you may expect the fwarm. It is delightful to attend to thofe peculiar and mufical founds or notes, being an eighth or chord, which is tru- ly harmonious. Dr. Butler has taken pains to mew us the compafs the fong contains in the gamut, or fcale of mufick: the Queen compofing her part (or bafs) within the four lower cliffs j and the Princefs hers (a treble) in the four upper cliffs. The fwarm ready to come forth, the notes are louder, quicker, and more conftant. When the greater part of the fwarm is out, the mufick is at an end, and we hear no more. Sometimes the royal grant is revoked, and then all the royal iffue are flain. As every general rule has an exception, I muft tell my reader, that the fecond day of June 171 6. after a fwarm was come out, that very evening, and the two follow- ing, they gave notice for a fecond fwarm, which rofe the fifth day, when I joined them to the firft. That night, and the next, they called as before, and rofe twice ; I returned them both times, at each taking a Queen from them : a few days after they rofe a third time, fettled, yet went home again. Finally, they rofe a fourth time, when I took two Queens from them, putting them back to the old ftock, after which they came forth no more. I mention this as being very lin- gular, and what I never obferved before, nor fince. 1 very perfectly remember, tho' many years ago, I heard thefe previous notices given for a firft fwarm> which are exceeding rare (that being the only time I ever took knowledge of them) and in a colony too \ where placing Their Language, lie placing rriy ear cldfe to the top of the uppermoft box, I could very eafily and diflindtly hear the leaft noife^ and what was acting about the throne. And juft as the fwarm began to rife, there feemed to be the greateft la- mentation among the branches of the royal family. Notes' of woe expreffive of the deepeft forrow, as tho' they were taking an eternal farewel of one another. With the fecond fwarm two of the royal Princeffes go forth very often, and fometirhes three, in hopes to gairi a kngdom* That Princefs, who is fo happy as to get the throne firft, is proclaimed Queen, and crown'd j the reft are all flain> as I have found them the next morning. It is very feldom I keep thefe fecond fwarm3, welt knowing they feldom anfwer any good purpofe, except two or three are joined together. Befides, the old ftocks greatly fuffer thereby ; for which reafon 1 frequently re- turn them, knocking them out before the old ftock. I would advife others to do the fame, which would not a little help the old ftocks, and in the end turn to the ad- vantage of the owners. And taking their Queen from them, they would not be fo apt to rife again. To put two calls together has little difficulty in it, efpecially if they come the fame day ; it is only at night fixing the mouth of one of the hives upwards, and pla- cing the other directly upon it, when one fmart ftroke with your hand will beat the whole body down into ifhe under hive, which you muft prefently fet again uporf a cloth, that they may fettle and compdfe themfelves. Af- ter which put them in their place. H a But ii6 THE HISTORY OF BEES. But fo many and various are the circumftances about the fwarming and hiving of Bees, that it is impofiible to give directions in them all. Common prudence will di- rect in many cafes ; and the reft muft be learned by ob- fervation, practice, and experience. In hiving fwarms (if you are afraid of their flings,) you may fecure yourfelf by a thin veil over the face, or by warning it with the fweet liquid ufed in dreffing the hive. In a very hot feafon, when the Bees are more apt to ftrike, I have ftho' not often ) put on fuch a veil ; but I have feldom been ftung, unlefs accidentally I happened to crufli one. The laft fwarm I had a fummer or two ago never fet- tled at all, but croffing a wide ftreet, they fled over the houfes, and entering in at the fide-piece of a back- building, found a paflage into the funnel of a chimney, and. had chofe that for their habitation. Refolving to di flodge them from this place, I got a large quantity of combuftible matter, fit for fuch a purpofe, and fet it on fire, which prefently brought them to light. No fooner did the fmoke begin to fill the chimney, but firft we heard a ftrange uproar and confufion, and prefently confidera- ble numbers came down into the room, thro* the fire and fmoke, and fome perilhed therein, and the reft were let out at the window, but the main body efcaped the way they entered, fettling on the outfide wall, whence we got them with fome difficulty into an hive, in which they profpered fome years, producing feveral fwarms. In Their Language. uy In the year 1717. one of my fwarms fettling among the clofe-twifted brancues of a codling-tree, and not to be got into an hive without help, my maid-fervant be- ing in the garden, offered her afliftance, to hold the hive while I diflodged the Bees. Having never been acquainted with Bees, fhe put a linnen cloth over her head and moulders, to guard and fecure her from their f words. A few of the Bees fell into the hive ; fome upon the ground ; but the main bo- dy upon the cloth which covered her upper garments. I took the hive out of her hands, when fhe cried out, the Bees were got under the covering, crouding up towards her breaft and face ; which put her into a trem- bling pofture. When I perceived the veil was of no further fervice, fhe gave me leave to remove it. Thi$ done, a moft affecting fpectacle prefented itfelf to the view of all the company, filling me with the deepeft dif- trefs and concern, as I thought myfejf the unhappy in- ftrument of drawing her into fo imminent hazard of her life. Had flie enraged them, all refiftance had been in vain, and nothing lefs than her life would have atoned for the offence. I fpared not to urge all the arguments I could think of, and ufe the moft affedionate intreaties, begging her with all earneftnefs in my power, to ftand her ground, and keep her prefent pofture j in order to which, I gave her encouragement to hope for a full difcharge from, her difagreeable companions. H 3 I began U8 THEHISTORYOFBEES. I began to fearch among them for the Queen, now got in a great body upon her breaft, about her neck, and up to her chin. I immediately feized her, taking her from among the croud with fome of the commons in company with her, and put them together into the hive. Here I watched her for fome time, and as I did not obferve that {he came out, 1 conceived an expectation of feeing the whole body quickly abandon their fettlement ; but inftead pf that, I foon obferved them gathering clofer together, without the leaft fignal for departing. Upon this I im- mediately reflected, that either there muft be another Sovereign, or that the fame was returned. I diredly (commenced a fecond fearch, and in a fhort time, with a moft agreeable fiirprize, found a fecond, or the fame ; (he ftrove, by entering further into the croud, to efcape tne, but I re-condu£ted her, with a great number of the populace, into the hive. And now the melancholy fcene began to change, tp one infinitely mpre agreeable and pleafant. The Bees prefently miffing their Queen, began to dif- lodge, and repair to the hive, crouding into it in multi- tudes, and in the greater! hurry imaginable. And in the fpace of two or three minutes the maid had not a fingle Bee about her, neither had fhe fo much as one ftino-, a fmall number of which would have quickly flopped her breath. How inexpreffible the pjeafure which fucceeded her paft fears ! I never call to mind the wonderful efcape, without a fecret and very feijfible pleafure. This How to order Bees in Hives. \ ig This memorable efcape, infpired her with great cou- rage, confimilar to thefe bold, daring, and undaunted infers. That ever after fhe would refolutely undertake the moft hazardous fervices about them. April 30, 1737. I had a fwarm, which fwarmed a- gaki 'June 22d the fame year. Keep your hives as full of Bees as you can, for poor weak flocks will but difappoint you. And thus will you have little or no occafion for feeding. How to order Bees in Hives, AS foon as a fwarm is put into an hive, they marfhal themfelves after their ufual manner, leaving a vacuity or empty fpace in the height of the hive, to give the labour- ing Bees liberty to carry on their work. They have indeed a commodious houfe, as a place of refuge and of reft, but no provifion j many mouths, but no meat j and likewife all their winter-ftore to lay in. If then they would live, labour is abfolutely necef- fary, and no time is to be loft. The very day therefore their owner put them into an houfe, they begin to furnifh it, to lay in food, and ga- ther honey ; as alfo wax, which is now for fome time their principal employment, that they may have their magazines in readinefs to receive the treafure. This then being their time of harveft, prevent (to your power) whatever may incommode or hinder them. All the month of June, and to the middle of July, let them have room enough for labour. Then begin to H 4 ftraiten i2o THE HISTORY OF BEES. ftraiten the pafTage ; for no fooner doth honey begin to fail abroad, but the robbers will be trying to break in and fteal. In the next month make the pafTage fmaller ftill, fo a few Bees will more eafily guard it. This is the worft month in all the year for robbing ; and therefore a ftricl: and daily infpeclion and overfight is requifite. The method I ufe is as follows ; which effectually pre-? vents the entrance of the mice (their mortal enemies) and the finking of the hive's mouth, when it is old, which often Hops the pafTage, and fhuts them in, great- ly, to their prejudice. Take a fquare piece of deal above four inches long, and cut a door-way in it the length of three or four in- ches, and more than a quarter of an inch in depth, that a large Bee or Drone may eafily pafs it. Place this at the mouth of the hive, to be enlarged or leffened accord- ing to the feafqn of the year, and as you fee occafion. When the hives are full of Bees remove it, and re- place it after the fwarms are come forth. If in this, or the following month, you obferve any hive daily attempted by robbers ; but efpecially if you find the Drones in an hive, after they are expelled all the other flocks, you have great reafon to fufpeir. the lofs of the Queen, and confequently the total diflbluti- on of the whole ftate j and fo the moft prudent way will be to take them in time. The month of Qttoler is the beft for feeding Bees, or faking them for your ufe, either thofe flocks which are very Of Feeding of Bees. 1 2 r very rich, or thofe that are tco poor to (land till next fummer without your afiiftance. Keep none that wei b h not twenty pounds. Jf you have not watering places near, (ct a trough of wood or (tone in your garden, filled with gravel, and kept always moift, for them to drink. Of Feeding of Bees. FEEDING Bees is what I have no great opinion of, and very feldom pracYife j yet it may fometimes be ne- ceflary, as when new fwarms are in want. Various are the methods ufed in feeding of Bees, as well as the ma- terials ; as fugar, fait, fweet-wort, &c. which cannot be laid up for future fupply. Honey alone is their natural and proper food ; and when there is a real neceflity to feed any, give them no lefs than a pound, or two pounds at once, and repeat it, till you have furnifhed them with a fufficient quantity. This they will lay up in the cells for future ftore, The manner of adminiftring it may be this. Let your honey be brought to a due confiftence, or a liquid, by water, or fmall beer mixed with it ; then pour it into a veffel prepared on purpofe, or into an empty comb, a Drone-comb (being ftrongeft) is the beftj and in the evening when all the other Bees are quiet, gently raifing the hive on one fide, put it under ; and the next day they will, with the greateft chearfulnefs convey it into the magazines. If 122 THE HISTORY OF BEES. If you give it in fome other vefTel, fome precautions will be neceffary to prevent drowning themfelves in it. At fuch times be fure to keep the pafTage or door ftrait, for fear of robbers. It would not be amifs to feed in a cloudy, mifty feafon, when the Bees ftir leaft abroad ; and begin to feed them in time. . I never gave lefs than a pound and an half, or two pounds together. If in fpring they need any further help, let them not want ; the gathering feafon being at hand, when they will be able to help themfelves, and reward your kind- flefs and companion. Several times I have faved them, even at the Iaft, when not a Bee was able to come down, by dropping a fpoonful of liquid honey among them in the combs ; and afterwards offering them what was wanting. The common, but cruel method of taking hives, at this feafon of the year, is by burning with fire and brim- ftone. To which I can by no means be reconciled, and here in this publick manner proteft againft, preferring to it fumigation; whereby with fafety we may become pofTeflbrs of their treafure. But that will be confidered in a chapter by itfelf. The way of driving Bees, in order to come at their honey, I utterly diflike, and am an enemy againft, be- caufe the honey muft be foul and corrupted ; and what is worfe ftill, great numbers of young brood (the beft of the Bees) utterly destroyed, and by that means thofe #pcks greatly reduced and endangered. In Oftober and November take particular care to fecure their winter-quarters, that neither the weather, nor o- ther enemies, hurt them. In Of the Honey- Dew. 123 In the end of January, or in February, lift them gent- ly from the ftools, and cleaning the filth, fet them agairt in their place. And if your ground will allow, let them ftand a full yard diftant from each other, and not too great numbers in one garden ; for by that means I had no lefs than feven fwarms the laft fummer, which fet- tled all together. Of the Honey- Dew. WHAT the honey- dew is, is difputed among the learned.* According to the ancients it was an efflux of air, a dew which fell upon flowers. The moderns fay it is rather a perfpiration of the fi- neft particles of the fap in plants, which evaporating thro' the pores afterwards condenfe upon the flowers.f Pliny was much in the dark about it, and writes doubtfully of it, afTerting, it was either the fweat of hea- ven, the fpittle of the ftars, or the moifture of the air purging itfelf. % Dr. Butler judges it to be the quinteffence of all the earth's fweetnefs (/. e. of the flowers) exhaled, as other dews in vapours, into the loweft region of the air, by the continued and exceeding heat of the fun, and con- denfed there.§ And thence I have very often (een it defcend, in a ' clear day, like an exceeding fine rain - t and eafily dif- cerned • Mel rofcldum. f Nat. Z>eA'». p. 108. J Sive Mud fit Ceeli Sudor , Jive qucedam Syderum faliva , five purganth ft Jem Succus, § Sutlers Feem. Mottar. pag. 11 1. 124 THE HISTORY OF BEES. cerned it againft the light of the fun for many hours> if not a whole day together. The Doctor's reafons are thefe. ' When the year is backward in it's fruits, the honey- dews are the fame. In hotter, and more fouthern climates, where the fruits and flowers are moft forward, thefe dews are more timely. Alfo becaufe thofe countries, which have the greateft plenty of the beft and fweeteft flowers, have al- ways the pureft honey. And certain it is, that the hotteft and drieft fummers do produce the greateft and moft frequent honey- dews. And in cold and wet feafons, few or none of them are to be feen. It is the moft generally received and prevailing opini- on, that thefe honey-dews confift of vapours raifed in the third region, and being thoroughly purged and di- gefted by the heat of the fun, and condenfed, fall down to the earth. But as plenty of honey falls from above, fo is there a native fweetnefs in plants, flowers, &c. whence the Bees carefully and conftantly gather it ; and as they ex- tract it from the flowers, they do not (as fome writers af- firm) defecate, concoct, and refine it ; but as nature pro- duces it, they fill their little bags with it, immediately tranfport it to their hives, and difcharge it into the ma- gazines ; which done they go back for more. Much lefs do Bees make the honey, tho' fome tell us the dew is not honey, except it be gathered by the Bees, concocted in their bodies, and condenfed by their heat in the combs. AncJ Of the Honey-Dew. 125 And it is the opinion of many authors, that there is no material or fubftantial difference between the honey- dew, and the ancient manna of the Ifraelites in the wil- dernefs. The Manna fell on the ground like hoary froft, was gathered early before the fun waxed hot, and tafted like wafers made with honey, which fhews fome fimilitude and agreement betwixt them. Honey was the fugar of the ancients, and the Romans ufed it in their feafts.* • Punkas' s Theatre p. tjf. . ■ CHAP. 126 THE HISTORY OF £E£S. CHAP. VIL Of Bees Wars and Robberies, HERE is not any thing relating to thefe infe&s, that has given me £o much un- eafinefs and labour, as their martial fpi- rit, ftriving to enrich themfelves, at the expence and ruin of their neighbours. Not that they are influenced by, or aft from a prin- ciple of cruelty or injuftice; but their fighting and plun- dering of one another ought rather to be imputed, either to their perfe£t abhorrence of floth and idlenefs, or to their infatiable thirft for honey ; for when no honey Is to be had among the flowers abroad, but only among their neighbours, they will venture their lives to get it there, and not a hive within their reach is left unaf- faulted. Now the trumpet founds to arms, and thefe true fons of Mars prepare themfelves for war. And many a terrible battle have I beheld between the one and the other, and great multitudes quickly flain. A few Bees perhaps at firft find means to pafs by the guard, and encouraged by repeated fuccefs, they return with frefh forces, conftantly encreafing the number, till the invafion is too powerful to be oppofed, and the hive is entirely ruined. The Of the Bees JVats and Robberies. 127 The eleventh of Auguji 1716. my little daughter came running to me, (being in company,) and told me the Bees were fwarming ; but I gueflfed them to be robbers, which I prefently found true upon entering the garden ; where I beheld a dreadful battle, and great numbers dead upon the walks, having broke at once into feveral hives. Nor was there one ftock or colony left untried, tho' in all about thirty. Here I had employment enough. Immediately I flopped up two of them very clofe, and by other means, in lefs than an hour, 1 fecu- red all the reft, and the robbers difappeared. The end of July J 743, taking a walk to one of my apiaries, I no fooner heard the noife of the Bees, but I was perfuaded they were employed in theft and rob- bery, and prefently found they had violently aflaulted feventeen hives in another Bee-garden at a fmall dif- ftance. Great numbers were broke into one of them, and carrying out honey with little or no oppofition ? which 1 directly fecured. Upon that, they fell upon the two next with the utmoft fury, and in vaft numbers, which obliged me to fhut up them alfo, and cover moft of the reft. When fox the ipace of an hour, or more, I had a very warm encounter with the robbers before I could force them to retreat. At night I opened the paf- fages, and gave the thieves liberty to return home. The next morning they made a frefh and very vigo- rous aflault, but I was then prepared for them, being fure of this fecond vifit ; when after another fmart con- flict:, I gained a compleat victory, after which they re- turned 128 THE HISTORY OF BEES. turned no more in that hoftile manner. That flock which fuffered moft is now fafe, and in all probability will profper. Hence may the reader take direction how to acT: in fimilar cafes : inftantly flop up fuch hives till evening; then difcharge the ftrangers. Keep the flock clofe fhut up the next day, which will give you a fair opportunity of engaging the robbers by themfelves, and effectually prevent further attempts. Yet provided they fhould af- terwards return, when your doors are again fet open, difturb the true Bees by a bunch of Funking madder faf- tened to the end of a little flick of a convenient length, till they begin to fhew their refentment ; then will you fee them feize the robbing Bees, and tumble them down in the greateft wrath; fo that you may afiuredly infer their fafety. They will beft defend themfelves. But at the time you are thus employed, it is needlefs to give you a caution to take care of yourfelves. But fhould your hives thus attacked have but a few Bees, and little honey, it is better to take them, than fland a trial. I never loft any flocks by the robbers but once, which was occafioned purely by my abfence ; paying a vifit at Woodjlock^ at my return I found two hives in a manner ruined, and took what little honey was left in them. 1 have at other times been a witnefs of fatal battles, of more than two days continuance, occafioned by a Grange fwarm forcing their way into a Angle hive or colony. Alfo Of Bees Wars arid Robberies. 129 Alfo two fwarms going together fometimes quarrel, till great numbers have been deftroyed, or one of the Queens flain, which ends the conteft, when the com- mons on both fides unite under the furvivor. All flocks of Bees, whether in hives or colonies, are fo many diftinc~t communities or kingdoms, and entirely independent. As fuch, they live in perfect peace and unity among themfelves, but have no intercourfe or friendfhip with one another, but rather live in perpetual enmity and wars. It is ten thoufand pities that fuch excellent and ufe- ful creatures mould thus plunder and deftroy each other. To prevent which, obferve the foregoing directions. Thus have we travelled with them thro' the feveral feafons;,at the fame time taking cognizance of their fe- veral forts, together with their different offices and eirn ployments. That of the Queen, both day and night for fo many months together, muft be very operofe and laborious 5 her province muft be very hard and difficult, tho' all is aded within doors. So large a family to raife and fu- perintend, fo prodigious a multitude of eggs to lay, which occafions her conftant travel from cell to cell, and neceflity of running the fame round without the leaft refpite, conftant and impartial juflice to be admi- niftred thro' the whole ftate, to every member of the body politick, muft, one would think, be a great con- finement and fatigue, and a ftation not very defirable j and yet all is difcharged with the greateft regularity, chearfulnefs, diligence, conftancy and delight. I The 130 THE HISTORY OF B EES. The employment of the commons is to gathe/ wax, (which takes up moft of the firft week afcer the fwarm) in order to build the combs ; to fetch in honey, with ne- cefTary materials, as proper nutrition for the young ; to keep guard, carry forth the dead, kill the drones, and cleanfe the hives, &c. Then the office of the drones is either procreation according to fome, or hatching and haftening the young brood according to others. Yet thefe are but of fhort duration, few living above three months, others not more than two, and many not one. And the nymphs often dragged out of the cells before they are perfect, and caft out of the hive. CHAP, t W ) CHAP. VIII. Of the Bees Enernies» f^VyiiT 1 FIAT pity is it that creatures, of Co great excellency and ufefulnefs to mankind* {hould have any enemies ; but certain it is they haye many. The chief of which are as follow. Some of their word enemies we have confidered in the preceding chapter, even thofe of their own fpecies, none being more hurtful to them, except their cruel and mercilefs owners, who at once depopulate and ut- terly deftroy, without the leaft compafiion, whole king- doms and empires, Both rich and poor flocks are here equally guilty, and try to augment their own ftore, tho* with the greateft difficulty, danger and difhonefty. Where they meet with little or no oppofition, they grow bold and impudent, but a refolute and vigorous refiflance makes them retire. But if once thro' their numbers they florm the cita- del, and the garrifon is forced to yield (their chief de- fign being to rob from others, and enrich themfelves) they immediately fall to plundering the city, and tranf- port the treafure into their own dominions ; when the I 2 true J 3? THE HISTORY OF BEES. true^Rees are left inevitably to die thro' famine, which is far worfe than fudden death. Sometimes it, is not pnly i a fingle ftock that is thus employed, but feyeral are inarms at once, and not eafi- ly compofed. I have before directed how to prevent this mifchief. , . . Another enemy is the moufe, efpecially the field- moufe. Thefe are dangerous, and deftroy multitudes every winter in our kingdom ; therefore carefully guard againft them, fonce loft a ftock by this means, and only that.pnce ; they had made a neft among the combs, and brjed young. Keep the door therefore fo clofe that a moufe can- not enter, and examine the hackle, to diflodge them from thence. An effectual prefervative would be to place your hives fo, that it may be impoflible for a moufe to afcend -, as many of mine are. Alfo place traps in your Bee-garden. I caught no lefs than thirty mice in one garden the laft winter, and the fame number of tit- mice. •■'...' The titmoufe is a great devourer of Bees, ten or twelve being fcarce fufficient for his breakfaft, often re- turning for a frefh feaft. Tearing the Bee to pieces, he eats the entrails, and drops the reft. Frequently have I found him knocking at the door, when no fooner doth the poor innocent Bee appear to enquire what gave the alarm, but me is feized, and be* Comes his prey. The fame enemy often feizes them when abroad. Shoot them, or fet traps for them. The Of the Bees Enemies, j^3 The houfe-lark, a little dun bird with a black bill, in fummer time is the death of many Bees j fhe watches near the hives or colonies, feizing them as they fettle^ and many times in flight, and carries them to her young. This bird builds her neft in the wall of an houfe, where I have often found it, and deftroyed both old and young together. The fwallow likewife feeds her young with Bees, as I have found by difTecYion j if poflible deftroy their nefts. The fparrow do them little or no prejudice* only feeding themfelves or their young, with the white mag- gots, or the unripe nymphs caft out of the hive. The moth is not the leaft enemy to Bees : concealing herfelf, fhe lays her eggs, which by the heat in the hive turn to worms or maggots, fecreted at firft in the lkirts of the hive (which ought to be flopped with lime and hair) but afterwards getting into the combs, generally prove the ruin and deftruction of the whole : for the Bees, not able to endure fuch difagreeable company, abandon their habitation, leaving the enemy in full pof- feflion. Deftroy them if you can. The fpiders alfo deftroy many, catching them in their nets at their return home, being, heavy loaden. They fpread their nets about the hives, or colonies with- in the Bee-houfe, round the boxes, upon the walls, flowers or bufhes, wherein the Bees are immediately en- tangled and killed. To preferve your Bueen-Bee defcribed. pag. 57. The Sex of Bees. pag. 62. 7#«V Method of Generation more particularly confidered. pag. 81. Chap, I 5 S The CONTENTS. Chap, V. Of their Works or ArchiteSfure. pag. 99. Chap. VI. Of the Swarming and hiving of Bees. pag. 108. 1 heir Language. pag. 113. How to order Bees in Hives* pag. 11 9. Of Feeding the Bees. pag. 121. Of the Honey-Dews. pag. 123. Chap. VII. Of their Wars and Robberies. pag. 126. Chap. VIII. Of their numerous Enemies* pag. 131, Of the Age of Bees. pag. 137. Chap. IX. Of ordering and improving Bees in Colonies. pag. 139, Chap. X. How to preferve Bees in common Hives, uniting two in one by Fumigation, pag. 150. Dire&ions to the Book-binder. Place the plate of a Glafs-hive before the title, and the plate of a Bee-houfe before page 139. THE END.