B. II.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 267 



thyme, they mix water with it before they smear the cells. 

 All the bees emit their excrements either on the wing, as it 

 has been said before, or into a single cell. The small bees, 

 it has been already remarked, are more industrious than the 

 large ones, so that their wings become worn at the edges, 

 and their colour black and burnt, but the bright and shiny 

 bees are idle, like women. 



23. Bees also appear to have pleasure in noises, so that 

 they say that they collect them into their hives by striking 

 earthen vessels and making noises. But it is very doubtful 

 whether they hear or not, and if they hear, whether they 

 collect together from pleasure or from fear. The bees drive 

 out all that are idle or wasteful. They divide the work, as 

 it has been already said ; some work at the honey, others at 

 the grubs, and others at the bee bread; some, again, form the 

 comb, others carry water to the cells, and mix it with the 

 honey, while others go to work. Early in the morning they 

 are silent, until one bee arouses them by humming two or 

 three times, when they all fly to their work ; when they 

 return again there is some disturbance at first, which gradu 

 ally becomes less, until one of them ilies round with a 

 humming noise, as if warning them to sleep, when on a 

 sudden they all become silent. 



24. It is a sign that the swarm is strong when there is 

 much noise and movement, as they leave and return to the 

 hive, for they are then busy with the grubs. They are most 

 hungry when they begin to work after winter. They are 

 more idle if the person who takes the honey leaves much be 

 hind, but it is necessary that a quantity should be left pro 

 portionable to the strength of the swarm, for they work less 

 actively if too little is left ; they become more idle if the 

 hive is large, for they despair of their labour. The hive is 

 deprived of a measure or a measure and a half of honey ; if 

 it is strong, two or two measures and a half. Some few will 

 afford three measures. 



25. Sheep and wasps, as it was said above, are hostile to 

 bees. The bee fanciers, therefore, catch the wasps in pans, in 

 which they place pieces of flesh; when many have fallen in, 

 they put on a lid and put them in the tire. It is good 

 for the bees to have a few drones among them, for it makes 

 them more industrious. Bees discern the approach of cold 



