140 CONCHOLOGIST’S COMPANION. 
the morning than he winds his horn, and the horses, 
mules, oxen, asses, goats, and sheep, immediately 
leave their respective places of retreat, and assemble 
round their conductor. He then advances at their 
head, and leads them into such pasturage as he thinks 
proper for the day; a second signal conducts them to 
the waters, and a third commands them home, when 
every one repairs to his shelter for the night. 
Thus beautifully has Isaiah referred to this ancient 
custom, which is still common in the east: ‘‘ The 
ox knoweth his owner, the ass his master’s crib; but 
Israel doth not know, my people do not consider.” 
In Palestine, bee-masters summon their bees by 
blowing a small whistle, formed of bone or shell. 
They sometimes collect the humming population of a 
village, who follow them as orderly as sheep obey 
the voice of their shepherd, and lead them from one 
meadow to another, till an impending shower, or the 
approach of evening, cautions them to return. This 
singular custom is noticed by St. Cyril, who flourished 
in the fourth and fifth centuries, as a thing which he 
had frequently seen. He also mentions, that Isaiah 
refers to it in the following passage, in which the 
future conquests of the Assyrian monarch are foretold. 
** And it shall come to pass in that day, the Lord 
shall hiss (or whistle) for the bee that is in the land 
of Assyria. 
** And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in 
