BEE.] NATURAL HISTORY. 33 



themselves by their own doom for to die by the wound of 

 their own sting. Also Bees sit upon the hives and suck 

 the superfluity that is in honey-combs. And it is said that 

 if they did not so, thereof should attercops [/.*., spiders] 

 be gendered of that superfluity, and the Bees should die. 



Bartholomew (Berthelet}, bk. xii. 4. 



IF the night falleth upon them in their journey, then 

 they lie upright to defend their wings from rain and from 

 dew, that they may in the morrow tide fly the more swifter 

 to their work with their wings dry and able to fly. And 

 they ordain watches after the manner of castles, and rest 

 all night until it be day, till one Bee wake them all with 

 twice buzzing or thrice, or with some manner trumping: 

 then they fly all, if the day be fair on the morrow. And 

 the Bees that bringeth and beareth what is needful, dread 

 blasts of wind, and fly therefore low by the ground when 

 they be charged, lest they be Jetted with some manner of 

 blasts ; and chargeth themself sometime with gravel or with 

 small stones, that they may be the more steadfast against 

 blasts of wind by heaviness of the stones. Bees be com- 

 forted with smell of crabs, if they be sodden nigh them. 

 They die all with oil as such round beasts do, and namely 

 if the head be anointed ; and such beasts, set in the sun, 

 quicken again if they be bespring with vinegar. And Bees 

 that make honey slay the males that grieve them, and evil 

 kings, that rule them not aright, but only eat too much 

 honey. And no creature is more wreakful, nor more 

 fervent to take wreak than is the Bee when he is wroth ; 

 therefore a multitude of the host of Bees throweth down 

 great hedges when they be compelled to withstand them 

 that destroy their honey. And Bees be pleased with 

 harmony and melody of sound of song, and with flapping 

 of hands and beating of basins. And therefore with beating 

 of basins, tinging and tinking of timbers, they be com- 

 forted and called to the hives. //</.,. bk. xviii. 12. 



WHERE the Bee can suck no honey, she leaveth her 

 ing behind. Z,/Y/y, " Sappho and Phaon " (Prologue). 



FLIES that die on the honeysuckle become poison to 

 :es. Ibid., ii. 4. 



A BEE'S sting pricketh deepest, when it is fullest of 

 >ney. Ibid., iv. 4. 



3 



