THE BEE. 



" The good bee, M other good people, haih many bad enemieg, 

 which she herself cannot overcome without the assistance of man 

 for whom she labours ; and therefore the wise bee-man will take 

 caie to destroy the enemies of his friend the bee, — whose ene- 

 mies are — 



" 1. The mouse (whether he be of the field or house) is a 

 dangerous enemy ; for if he gets into the hive he tears down 

 the combs, makes havoc of the hpney, and so starves the bees ; 

 some gnaw a hole through the top of the hive ; some keep their 

 old homes, and come to the hive only for food ; and some make 

 their abode between the hackle and the hive. To prevent this, 

 take care that your hives be well and closely wrought ; for if 

 the straw be loose and soft, they wiU the easier make their way 

 through the hive; also take care that your hives be closely 

 daubed with doom, that they may have entrance nowhere about 

 the skirts, but at the door only. It is also good that ever and 

 anon you take off the hives, not only for this but other causes. 



"2. The wuoapeoker and sparrow are both enemies to the 

 bees ; the woodpecker with his long round tongue draweth out 

 the honey; but he doth more mischief to wood bees than 

 those of the garden ; the sparrow doth devour the bee from the 

 time of the first breeding till the wheat be kerned. 



" 3. The titmouse is another enemy, of which there are three 

 sorts. The great titmouse, from his black head and breast 

 called a coal mouse, and is the worst enemy to the bees; he 

 always watches at the hive for the coming and going out of the 

 bees ; he will stand at the door, and there never leave knocking 

 till one cometh to see who is there, and then suddenly catch- 

 ing her, away he flies with her, and when he hath eaten her, he 

 flies back for more : eight or nine will scarce serve his turn at 

 once. If the door be shut that none can come out, he labours 

 to remove the bar. If that be too heavy, he falls to under- 

 mining the door for a new way ; and when these devices cannot 

 get them out, some have the skill to break the daubed walls of 

 the hives above, over against the place where they lie, and 

 there they are sure to have their purpose. This is the greatest 

 enemy the bee hath ; and therefore by the bee-men of Hamp- 

 shire he is called the bee-biter. The little russet titmouse in 

 the winter feedeth only on dead bees; but in the spring he 

 wiU take part with the great ones. The little green titmouse 

 can only be accused of eating some few dead bees, and that 

 only in some hungry time. 



" 4. The swallow is another bee-eater, who catcheth the bees 



