48 THE APIARY. 



tion of gravel, sand and its own saliva, and when 

 freighted with the former article, may easily have 

 led a careless observer into the erroneous opinion 

 above alluded to. 



From a similar inaccuracy of observation, it is 

 probable that flies were confounded with bees by 

 ancient naturalists, and that from thence arose 

 the absurd notion, of the latter being gene- 

 rated in putrid carcases, as we know the former 

 to be ; and this error was most likely confirmed 

 by their having found both honey and bees in the 

 carcases of dead animals, as recorded in the case 

 of Samson. 



Though, for the reasons above stated, an apiary 

 would not be well situated near a large river, yet 

 it should not be far from a rivulet or spring : 

 small ones, that glide gently over pebbles, are the 

 most desirable, as affording a variety of resting 

 places for the bees to alight upon. If neither 

 spring nor streamlet be near, a broad dish of 

 water should be placed for the bees, the bottom 

 being covered with small stones or duckweed, to 

 facilitate their drinking and prevent drowning. 



This, in a hot dry season, is of considerable 

 importance, as it will save that time, which must 

 otherwise be spent, in fetching water from a di- 

 stance ; for without water, as will be noticed here- 

 after, no wax can be formed. 



It is of course of the greatest importance that 



