AN IDYL OF THE HONEY-BEE. 57 



In the afternoon we go nearly half a mile farther 

 along the ridge to a corn-field that lies immediately 

 in front of the highest point of the mountain. The 

 view is superb ; the ripe autumn landscape rolls away 

 to the east, cut through by the great placid river ; in 

 the extreme north the wall of the Catskills stands out 

 clear and strong, while in the south the mountains 

 of the Highlands bound the view. The day is warn 

 and the bees are very busy there in that neglected 

 corner of the field, rich in asters, flea-bane, ant", 

 golden-rod. The corn has been cut, and upon a stout, 

 but a few rods from the woods, which here drop 

 quickly down from the precipitous heights, we set up 

 our bee-box, touched again with the pungent oil. In 

 a few moments a bee has found it ; she comes up to 

 leeward, following the scent. On leaving the box she 

 goes straight toward the woods. More bees quickly 

 come, and it is not long before the line is well estab- 

 lished. Now we have recourse to the same tactics 

 we employed before, and move along the ridge to 

 another field to get our cross line. But the bees still 

 go in almost the same direction they did from the 

 corn stout. The tree is then either on the top of the 

 mountain, or on the other or west side of it. AA e 

 hesitate to make the plunge into the woods and seek 

 to scale those precipices, for the eye can plainly see 

 what is before us. As the afternoon sun gets lower, 

 the bees are seen with wonderful distinctness. Thcj 

 fly toward and under the sun and are in a strong 

 light, while the near woods which form the back- 

 ground are in deep shadow. They look like lai 

 luminous motes. Their swiftly vibrating, transpaivi t 

 wings surround their bodies with a shining minima 

 that makes them visible for a long distance. They 



