APID^ BEES. 183 



Their nest by this means is often so heavy as to weigh one 

 or two pounds."^ 



It was the general opinion of antiquity that Bees were 

 produced from the putrid bodies of cattle. Yarro says they 

 are called Booyovai by the Greeks, because they arise from 

 petrified bullocks. In another place he mentions their 

 rising from these putrid animals, and quotes the authority 

 of Archelaus, who says Bees proceed from bullocks, and 

 wasps from horses.^ Virgil, however, is much more satis- 

 factory, for he gives us the recipe in all its details for pro- 

 ducing these insects : 



First, in a place, by nature close, they build 



A narrow flooring, gutter'd, "wnll'd, and til'd. 



In this, four windows are contriv'd, that strike 



To the four winds oppos'd, their beams oblique. 



A steer of two years old they take, whose head 



Now first with burnished horns begins to spread: 



They stop his nostrils, while he strives in vain 



To breathe free air, and struggles with his pain. 



Knock'd down, he dies : his iDowels bruis'd within, 



Betray no wound on his unbroken skin. 



Extended thus, in his obscene abode. 



They leave the beast; but first, sweet flowers are strow'd 



Beneath his body, broken boughs and thyme, 



And pleasing Cassia, just renew'd in prime. 



Tliis must be done, ere spring makes equal day, 



When western winds on curliiig waters play; 



Ere painted meads produce their flowery crops, 



Or swallows twitter on the chimney tops. 



The tainted blood, in this close prison pent, 



Begins to boil, and thro' the bones ferment. 



Then wond'rous to behold, new creatures rise, 



A moving mass at first, and short of thighs; 



Till shooting out with leg?, and imp'd with wings, 



The grubs proceed to Bees with pointed stings: 



And more and more att'ecting air, they try 



Their tender pinions and begin to fly.^ 



This absurd notion was also promulgated by the great 

 English chronicler, Hollingshed ; for, says this author, 

 " Hornets, waspes, Bees, and such like, whereof we have 



1 Swam. Hist, of Ins., Pt. I. p. 226. 



2 Martin's Georg. of Virgil, iv. 295, note. 



3 Dryden's Virgil, Georg. iv. 417-442. Democritus, said to have 

 been contemporary with Socrates and Hippocrates, the learned Yarro, 

 Columella, and Plorentinus, have severally given this same receipt. 

 Vide Owen's Geoponika, ii. 199. 



