HONEY AND ITS SOURCES. 197 



to places abounding with autumnal flowers, as was done 

 by conveying the Bees from Achosia to Attica, from 

 EubcEa, and the Cyclad Islands to Scyros, and also in 

 Sicily, where they were brought to Hybla from other 

 parts of the Island. 



In the summer of 1878 a revival of this ancient practice 

 was attempted in America by Mr. C. O. Perrine, who fitted 

 up a travelling barge on the Mississippi with 800 stocks. 

 He intended to travel 2000 miles, following the flower- 

 bloom up the river ; but from accidents to his machinery, 

 and the utter inexperience of such a scheme, his trip was 

 a partial failure, not sufficient, however, to deter him from 

 contemplating a future trial another year. 



"Thou cheerful Bee ! come, freely come, 



And travel round my woodbine bower ; 

 Delight me with thy wand' ring hum. 



And rouse me from my musing hour. 

 Oil ! try no more those tedious fields, 



My honied treasures all are thine ; 

 Come taste the sweets my garden yields. 



The bud, the blossom, all are thine."— Smyth. 



STINGS. 



The fear of being stung deters many people from keep- 

 ing Bees who otherwise would gladly avail themselves 

 of such an instructive and profitable occupation, and to 

 some persons the fear is well-founded ; for, although the 

 hardened Bee-keeper may treat with contempt the 

 alarm as puerile, the sting of a Bee will often produce a 

 painful and distressing temporary effect. As a satis- 

 faction to those who, in spite of the dreaded little 

 weapons, intend to become practical Bee-masters, I 



