THE HONEY-BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED. 25 



and indeed Until quite modern times, honey was almost 

 the only natural sweet ; and the promise of " a land 

 flowing with milk and honey" had once a significance 

 which it is difficult for us fully to realize. The honey-bee, 

 therefore, was created not merely to store up its delicious 

 nectar for its own use, but with certain propensities, with- 

 out which man could no more subject it to his control, 

 than he could make a useful beast of burden of a lion or 

 a tiger. 



One of the peculiarities which constitutes the founda- 

 tion of my system of management, and indeed of the 

 possibility of domesticating at all so irascible an insect, 

 has never to my knowledge been clearly stated as a great 

 and controlling principle. It may be thus expressed : 



A. honey-bee when filled with honey never volunteers 

 an attack, but acts solely on the defensive. 



This law of the honied tribe is so universal, that a stone 

 might as soon be expected to rise into the air without any 

 propelling power, as a bee weU filled with honey to offer 

 to sting, unless crushed or injured by some direct assault. 

 The man who first attempted to hive a swarm of bees, 

 must have been agreeably surprised at the ease with 

 which he was able to accomplish the feat ; for it is wisely 

 ordered that bees when intending to swarm, should fill 

 their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. They are thus 

 so peaceful that they can easily be secured by man, 

 besides having materials for commencing operations im- 

 mediately in their new habitation, and being in no danger 

 of starving if several stormy days should follow their 

 emigration. 



Bees issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood 



imaginable ; and unless abused allow themselves to be 



treated with great familiarity. The hiving of them might 



always be conducted without risk, if there were not occa- 



2 



