NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 33 



his observations. But to make their case still stronger, 

 they assert that his servant, Francis Burnens, by whose 

 aid he conducted his experiments, was only an ignorant 

 peasant. Now this so-called " ignorant peasant " was a 

 man of strong native intellect, possessing the indefatigable 

 energy and enthusiasm so indispensable to a good obser- 

 ver. He was a noble specimen of a self-made man, and 

 rose to be the chief magistrate in the village where he 

 resided. Huber has paid an admirable tribute to his 

 intelligence, fidelity, indomitable patience, energy and 

 skill.* 



It would be difficult to find in any language a better 

 specimen of the inductive system of reasoning, than 

 Huber's work on bees, and it might be studied as a model 

 of the only way of investigating nature, so as to arrive at 

 reliable results. 



Huber was assisted in his researches, not only by Bur- 

 nens, but by his own wife, to whom he was betrothed 

 before the loss of his sight, and who nobly persisted in 

 marrying him., notwithstanding his misfortune and the 

 strenuous dissuasions of her friends. They lived longer 

 than the ordinary term of human life in the enjoyment of 

 great domestic happiness, and the amiable naturalist 

 through her assiduous attentions scarcely felt the loss of 

 his sight. 



Milton is believed by many to have been a better poet 

 in consequence of his blindness ; and it is highly probable 

 that Huber was a better Apiarian from the same cause. 

 His active yet reflective mind demanded constant employ- 

 ment ; and he found in the study of the habits of the 

 honey-bee,- full scope 'for his powers. All the observations 



* A single fact will show the character of the man. It became necessary, in a 

 certain experiment, to examine separately all the bees in two hives. " Burnens 

 spent elewn. days in performing this work, and during the whole time he scarcely 

 allowed himself any relaxation but what the relief of his eyes required." 



