THE HONET-BEK CAPABLE OF BEING TAMEt . 25 



and indeed until quite modern times, honey was almost 

 the only natural sweet; and the promise of "a land 

 flowing with mUk and honey " had once a significance 

 which it is difficult for us fully to realize. The honey-bee, 

 therefore, was created' not merely to store up its delicious 

 nectar for its own use, but with certain propensities, with- 

 out which man could no more subject it to his control, 

 than he could make a useful beast of burden of a lion or 

 a tiger. 



One of the peculiarities which constitutes the founda^ 

 tion of my system of management, and indeed of the 

 possibility of domesticating at all so irascible an insect, 

 has never to my knowledge been clearly stated as a great 

 and controlling principle. It may be thus expressed : 



A. honey-bee when filled with honey never volunteers an 

 attack^ but acts solely on the defensive. 



This law of the honeyed tribe is so universal, that a stone 

 might as soon be expected to rise into the air without 

 any propelling power, as a bee well filled with honey to 

 oiFer to stiifg, unless crushed or injured by some direct 

 assault. The man who first attempted to hive a swarm 

 of bees, must have been agreeably surprised at the ease 

 with which he was able to accomplish the feat ; for it is 

 wisely ordered that bees, when intending to swarm, 

 should fill their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. 

 They are thus so peaceful that they can easily be secured 

 by man, besides having materials for commencing opera- 

 tions immediately ill their new habitation, and being in 

 no danger of starving if several stormy days should fol- 

 low their emigration. 



Bees issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood 



imaginable ; and unless abused allow themselves to be 



treated with great familiarity. The hiving of theni 



might always be conducted without risk, if there were 



2 



