1882-83-] Edinburgh NaUiralists Field Club. 65 



in a few minutes from apparent death. I have observed that when 

 the Bee's tongue or proboscis is protruded, the insect is dead be- 

 yond the power of Mr Warder or any one else to revive ; but that 

 80 long as the tongue is retained between the mandibles, there is 

 hope of recovery by warmth. The dedication of Warder's book to 

 Queen Anne is quaint and amusing. He compares the devotion 

 of the queen's subjects to that of the AVorker-Bees for their queen, 

 and reasons from analogy that the monarchical is the only proper 

 form of government. The next writer I will mention is Wildman, 

 the author of a treatise on the management of Bees, dated 1768. 

 This work was published by subscription, and among the sub- 

 scribers are several Edinburgh men — namely, Dr Black, George 

 Clerk, Dr Ferguson, and others. Wildman also wrote a very ex- 

 cellent account of the natural history of Wasps. There are two 

 cases on record of Bees swarming on human beings — one of them 

 mentioned by Wildman. The particulars of these cases I will give 

 when I come to speak of swarming. The works of recent date on 

 our subject in this country, the Continent, and America, are so 

 numerous, that I must content myself with merely mentioning some 

 of the authors' names, such as Huber, Eeaumur, Schirach, Dzier- 

 zon, Bevan, Nutt, Chesshire, Boot, Langstroth, Tegetmeyer, Petti- 

 grew, our townsman John Lowe, Sir John Lubbock, Cowan, and 

 last, but by no means least in imjjortance, Mr Abbott of Fairlawn, 

 near London, the able and obliging editor of the ' British Bee 

 Journal,' and the author of " Leaflets for Cottagers," and other veiy 

 useful and inexpensive works. Mr Abbott's indefatigable exer- 

 tions in inculcating humanity towards Bees, and giving valuable 

 information, are fully appreciated by all who have the pleasure of 

 his acquaintance. In the summer of 1881 I spent some hours with 

 him amongst his beehives most enjoyably and profitably; and it 

 was there that I saw for the first time the newly imported Bees 

 from the island of Cyprus. In noticing Bee literature, it is extra- 

 ordinary to think how much we owe to a blind man for our inti- 

 mate knowledge of the natural history of the insect. I refer, of 

 course, to that estimable man, Francis Huber, who lived to the 

 venerable age of 81, and died in 1831. His work, written origi- 

 nally in French, but translated into English, is undoubtedly one 

 of the most scientific and best treatises we possess. Huber was 

 fortunate in having that greatest of earthly blessings, a devoted 

 and affectionate wife, and when he became totally blind he used 

 her eyes and reasoned upon what she saw ; and most of his remarks 

 have been repeatedly confirmed by subsequent writers. The account 

 of his matrimonial engagement is romantic and int^eresting. Wlien 

 quite young, and attending a dancing academy, he formed an 

 ardent attachment to a daughter of Vl. Lullin, a member of the 

 syndic of the Swiss Republic ; and during his engagement, which 



