32 BEES IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



As example of his errors, or of the common ideas of 

 those days with regard to bees, he supposes that when 

 bees are lost, a fresh colony can be obtained from the 

 carcass of a young ox ; and he gives many and exact 

 directions how to proceed in such a case. 



He also speaks of bees carrying little stones to 

 serve as ballast'to steady them in stormy weather : — 



' And as when empty barks on billows float 

 With sandy ballast, sailors trim the boat ; 

 So bees bear gravel stones, whose jpoising weight 

 Steers thro' the whistling winds their steady flight.' 



On the Other hand, he gives some directions as to 

 bee-keeping which are excellent, especially as to the 

 situation for an apiary — with sun and yet shade, shel- 

 tered from winds, and with some water near at hand. 



Less than a hundred years afterwards Columella 

 lived and wrote on the same subject, and others also, 

 but not with greatly increased knowledge. 



We then hear but little of the subject until about 

 a hundred and fifty years ago, when the whole study 

 of natural history revived. 



We must, however, pass over this period, for I 

 want to point you especially to one great observer 

 and writer about bees who lived about a hundred 

 years ago — Huber ; and I want to do this because, 

 when thus an observer and writer, he was totally 

 blind. Think of a man who was quite blind taking 

 an interest in bees, and knowing a great deal about 

 their habits, and finding out very much that had 

 never been known before ! Does it not seem very 

 strange and wonderful .? 



