THE nONEY BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED. 27 



A HONEY BEE, WHEN IT IS GORGED OR FILLED WITH HONEY, 

 NEVER VOLUNTEERS AN ATTACK, BUT ACTS SOLELY ON THE 

 DEFENSIVE. 



This is a law of the honied tribe, as universal in its appli- 

 cation as the law of gravity in physics ; and I should just as 

 soon expect a stone to rise into the air without any propelling- 

 power, as a bee well filled with honey to offer to sting, 

 unless crushed or injured by some direct assault. The man 

 who first attempted to lodge a swarm of bees in an artificial 

 hive, must have been most agreeably surprised at the ease 

 with which he was able to accomplish the feat ; for bees 

 when intending to swarm, usually fill their honey-bags to 

 their utmost capacity. This is wisely ordered, that they 

 may have materials for commencing operations immediately 

 in their new habitation ; that they may not starve if several 

 stormy days should follow their emigration ; and that when 

 they leave their hives, they may be in a suitable condition to 

 be secured by man. 



They issue from their hives in the most peaceable mood 

 that can well be imagined ; and unless they are abused, allow 

 themselves to be treated with great familiarity. The hiving 

 of bees by those who understand their nature, could always 

 be conducted without risk, if it were not the case that some 

 improvident or unfortunate ones occasionally come forth 

 without the soothing supply ; and not being stored with 

 honey, are filled instead with the gall of the very bitterest 

 hate against all mankind and animal kind in general, and 

 any one who dares to meddle with them in particular. 

 Such thriftless radicals are always to be dreaded, for they 

 must vent their spleen on something, even though they 

 perish in the attempt. 



Suppose a whole colony, on sallying forth, to possess such 

 a ferocious spirit ; no one would ever dare hive them, unless 



