| 9 . YORKSHIRE* 239 



The combs of the former will be nearly- 

 white as fnow : and the honey limpid almoft 

 as the purett oil. Thofe of the latter brown j 

 and the honey they yield of the colour and 

 confiftency of melted rofin. This difference 

 is mort ftrikint* when the hive is carried in 

 autumn, from the lower parts of the marginal 

 heights, into the Moreland dales, to be filled 

 up with honey ; a practice which, fingular as 

 it may appear, has been followed with fuc- 

 cefs. 



In the winter of 1782-3^ a general morta- 

 lity took place among the bees of this coun- 

 try. Many bee-keepers loft their whole 

 ftock. I remember to have feen in Jhe 

 fpring of 1783, twelve to fifteen empty ftones 

 in one garden without a fingle furviving 

 hive. 



But the univcrfality of the definition, 

 uncommon as it was, being fuch as no one 

 can remember, was not fo remarkable as the 

 manner in which it was effected. The bees 

 were obferved to dwindle away, by degrees ; 

 though they had plenty of honey in their 

 hives; at length vanifhing; while fli!), pcf- 



hips, 



