BOOK XI. XV. 42-45 



the Euboean sisyrus, and they believe it to be very 



acceptable to bees. perhaps because at that season 



there is no other supply for them. Consequently 



this honey-gathering is roughly in the period between 



the end of vintage and the setting of the Pleiads on 



November 13. Reason advises leaving two-thirds 



of the honey then procui'ed for the bees, and always 



the parts of the combs that contain bee-bread. In HiOeniation 



the sixty days from midwinter to the rising of "■'****■ 



Arcturus they hve on sleep, without any food ; in 



the warmer period from the rising of Arcturus to the 



spring equinox they now keep awake, but still keep 



inside the hive and have recourse to the food kept 



for this time. But in Italy they do the same after 



the rising of the Pleiads, sleeping till then. Some Methodsof 



people in taking out the honey weigh the hives, so '"^*"'' '""**^- 



separating the amount to be left behind. There is 



indeed a bond of equity even in the case of bees, 



and it is said that if the partnership is defrauded 



the hives perish, Consequently it is one of the fu'st 



rules that people must wash themselves clean before 



they take the honey ; also bees hate scurf, and 



women's menstruation. When honey is being 



removed it is veiy useful for the bees to be driven 



away by smoke, so that they may not get angry or 



greedily devour it themselves. Also denser smoke 



is employed to arouse their sloth to their tasks, for 



if they have not gone on incubating, the combs they 



make are discoloured. On the other hand excessive 



smoke kills them, as honey very quickly undergoes 



deterioration if turned sour by the least touch of 



moisture ; and for this reason among the kinds of 



honey there is a special sort called by the Greek 



word meaning ' smokeless.' 



459 



