CHAPTER XXVII. 

 SUPERSTITIONS CONNECTED WITH BEES. 



Superstitions likely to gather around Bees — Unlucky to Buy Bees — 

 111 Omen for a Swarm to Settle on a Dry Stick — " Have the Bees 

 been told ? " — Turning Hives on the Death of the Owner — Probable 

 Origin of these Errors. 



On a priori grounds it is only to be expected that 

 various superstitions would arise at different times 

 and in various countries with regard to bees. Insects 

 displaying such marvellous instincts, such apparent 

 adaptation of means to ends, such indications of 

 reasoning and special intelligence, were sure to be 

 credited with powers beyond those generally recog- 

 nised in them. Hence we may account for some of 

 the curious ideas about "bees which have prevailed 

 in certain localities. 



There are other notions, however, the origin of 

 which is more difficiJlt to discover. Such, for 

 instance, is the prejudice among ignorant bee- 

 keepers against selling for coin swarms or stocks. 

 A purchase thus made is supposed to be likely to 

 lead to misfortune for one of the two parties con- 

 cerned. By some occult process, lying outside the 



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