CHE HONEY-BEE. 21 9 



the rains were unceasing, though never very heavy, 

 we sent four hives to the heath ; but brought them 

 back again considerably diminished in weight. 



Along with the deprived hives that is, those from 

 which a portion of their stores have been taken, 

 there should be sent to enjoy the benefit of change 

 of pasture, such swarms of the season as had emi- 

 grated late, or had been unusually small ; and to 

 give them a better chance of success, two of this de- 

 scription should be united before their removal. 

 Their station on the new pasture-ground should not 

 be less than three miles distant from the apiary, 

 otherwise they may find their way back to their 

 original resting-place, and perish* The flight of the 

 Bee, according to Huber, extends generally about 

 half-a-league. If that Naturalist meant a German 

 league, as he probably did, according to this calcula- 

 tion, a bee will fly at least two English miles in 

 quest of food. The proof of the correctness of this 

 opinion is given in a note by M. Lombard and in an 

 unpublished letter of Huber, of date April 1810 

 which is quoted by M. Lombard in his Treatise. "At 

 the time of the revolution, M. Huber lived at Cour, 

 near to Lausanne. He had the lake on one side of 

 his domicile, and vineyards on the other. He soon 

 perceived the disadvantage of his position (as re- 

 garded his bees.) When the orchards at Cour had 

 shed their blossoms, and the few meadows in the 

 neighbourhood had been mown, he found the stores 

 of his stock-hives diminishing daily ; the labours of 

 the bees ceased so entirely, that even in summer they 



