Chap. 46.] HOXET THAT FLIES WILL NOT TOUCH. 343 



of Mauritania Caesariensis, bordering on the country of the 

 Massaesyli, there are poisonous honeycombs found ; and some, 

 too, only partly so,^^ one of the most insidious things that 

 possibly could happen, were it not that the livid colour of the 

 honey gives timely notice of its noxious qualities. What can 

 we suppose to have possibly been the intention of Nature in 

 thus laying these traps in our way, giving us honey that is 

 poisonous in some years and good in others, poisonous in some 

 parts of the combs and not in others, and that, too, the produce 

 in all cases of the self-same bees ? It was not enough, forsooth, 

 to have produced a substance in which poison might be admi- 

 nistered without the slightest difficulty, but must she herself 

 administer it as well in the honey, to fall in the way of so 

 many animated beings ? What, in fact, can have been her 

 motive, except to render mankind a little more cautious and 

 somewhat less greedy ? 



And has she not provided the very bees, too, with pointed 

 weapons, and those weapons poisoned to boot ? So it is, and 

 I shall, therefore, without delay, set forth the remedies to 

 counteract tlie effects of their stings. It will be found a very 

 excellent plan to foment the part stung with the juice of mal- 

 lows^- or of ivy leaves, or else for the person w ho has been stung 

 to take these juices in drink. It is u very astonishing thing, 

 however, that the insects which thus carry these poisons in 

 their mouths and secrete them, should never die themselves 

 in consequence ; unless it is that jN^ature, that mistress of all 

 things, has given to bees the same immunity from the effects 

 of poison which she has granted against the attacks of serpents 

 to the Psylli^ and the Marsi among men. 



CHAP. 46. (14.) — HONEY THAT FLIES WILL NOT TOUCH. 



Another marvellous fact, again, connected with honey in 

 Crete. Upon 3Jount Carma in that island, which is nine 

 miles in circuit, there is not a fly to be found, and the honey 

 that is made there no fly will touch. ^* It is by this circum- 



81 Fee refuses to credit this : but still such a thing might accidentally 

 happen. 



»- These asserted remedies would be of no use whatever, Fee says. 



^ See B. vii. c. 2. 



^ Fee seems to take it for granted that Pliny is speaking here of honey 

 made by other insects than bees; but such does not appear to be the case. 



