5 1 3 TJflE BEE. 



files it : The profperity, however, of the new colony re- 

 quires that there iliould be but one ; one only is accor- 

 dingly preferved. In a fingle day, all the reft are put to 

 death ; snd it is found that the one which is fpared is the 

 tell entitled to reign, becaufe flie is nioft fertile, or rear- 

 efl her period of giving a new progeny to the fociety. 

 TDie young females in the old hive, if any remain there, 

 lliHre not a more happy deftiny ; all the fupernumeraries, 

 like thofe in the ivvarm, are put to death. 



We have already remarked that tlie Lees have many 

 enemies ; and in fome feafons, we are told, they are liable 

 to fatal difeafes : bu!: of all their deftroycrs man is tlie 

 greateft, from that barbarous avidity v/hich gives rife to 

 the practice of killing every hive that has collefted a fuf- 

 Scient quantity of honey *. In the winter feafon, cold 

 or hunger are the fcourges which often deflrcy fuch as 

 our rapacity has fpared. In flieitering them from the one 

 of thcfe evils, we often expofe them to the other. Too 

 great a degree of cold makes them periftif : If placed in 

 a fituation too warm, they are awakened from their tor- 

 pid ftate, and devour their food with an appetite which 

 foon brings on a famine. Experience is the only guide 

 that can prevent the bee mailer from falling into ihefe 

 extremes. 



In Egypt and in Greece, where the colleftion of honey 

 was deemed a trade of importance, the hives were regu- 

 larly removed to a different part of the country, when 

 the flowers had faded in another. It was for this pur- 



pofe, 



* Reaumur advift s the French government to infliiS an arbitrary pu- 

 nJfliment on all who fni caked hees. Tome V. p. 666. 



f The ancients wci e of opinion, that bees benr.nibsd with cold might be 

 veftorcd by hot allies, ^"id. Columcla 5; Varo. 



