CURIOUS CREATURES. 113 



multitude of Bees, the Hives at home will not contain 

 them, the Inhabitants willingly let them fly unto hollow 

 Trees, made so by Nature, or by Art, that they may in- 

 crease there. Wherefore mortal stratagems are thus 

 prepared for Bears, that use to steal honey (for they 

 having a most weak head, as a Lion hath the strongest, 

 for sometimes they will be killed with a blow under their 

 ear) ; namely a Woodden Club set round with Iron 



points is hung over the hole the Bees come forth of, 

 from some high bough, or otherwise ; and this, being 

 cast upon the head of the greedy Bear that is going 

 to steal the honey, kills him striving against it ; so he 

 loseth his life, flesh, and skin to the Master, for a little 

 honey. Their flesh is salted up like Hog's flesh, Stag's 

 flesh, Elk's, or Ranged deer's flesh, to eat in Camps, 

 and the Tallow of them is good to cure any wounds." 



Everyone of my readers, who is not a Scotsman, will ap- 

 preciate the delicate musical taste of the bear, in the matter 

 of bagpipes Bruin cannot stand the skirling, and, in the 

 illustration, seems to be remonstrating with the piper. 



