316 THE INSECT WOELD. 



Be*aumur, John Hunter, Schirach, and Francis Huber, had 

 unveiled, by their admirable researches, the wonderful habits of 

 these insects. The discoveries of Francis Huber seem to be almost 

 miraculous, when we remember that this observer was blind from 

 the age of seventeen. 



Deprived of sight, Francis Huber did not the less wish to conse- 

 crate his life to the observation and the study of nature. He 

 caused the best works of his day on natural history and physics to 

 be read to him, his usual reader being his servant, named Francis 

 Burnens, a native of the Pays de Yaud. The honest Burnens took 

 a singular interest in all he read, and showed by his judicious 

 reflections the- true talent of an observer, and Huber resolved to 

 cultivate this talent. Very soon he could place implicit reliance 

 in his companion, and see with another's eyes as if they were his 

 own. 



The two naturalists (we do not hesitate to give this title to the 

 poor peasant of the canton of Yaud, who so well seconded his 

 master in his long hours of study) conceived a host of original 

 experiments, which led them to discover truths which no one up 

 to that time had dreamt of. The results of their researches were 

 published, in 1789, in a volume which produced a profound sensa- 

 tion among naturalists.* Burnens was at a later period called 

 back to the bosom of his family, and invested by his fellow-citizens 

 with important functions. Francis Huber then continued his 

 observations through the eyes of the excellent wife he had married. 

 A second volume was thus composed by him twenty years after 

 the appearance of the first. This volume was published by his 

 son, Pierre Huber, to whom we are indebted for the admirable 

 researches concerning ants, of which we shall have to speak 

 further on. 



"We will now speak of the habits of bees. The labours of 

 Reaumur, of Schirach, and of Huber, have perfectly revealed them 

 to us, and have initiated us completely into the habits of these 

 precious insects, which are for us, to a certain extent, domestic 

 animals. We will begin by describing the Common Bee (Apis 

 mellifica). 



* "Nouvelles Observations sur Its Abeilles," par Francois Huber. Paris et 

 Geneve, in 8 . 2 e edition. 1814. 



