440 THE ITALIAN BEE. 



Unenvied, unmolested, unconfined. 

 But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade. 

 With all the freaks of wanton wealth array'd. 

 In these, ere triflers half their wish obtain, 

 The toilsome pleasure sickens into pain ; 

 And, e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, 

 The heart distrusting asks, if this be loy." 



CHAPTER XXI. 



The Italian Honey-Bee. 



Aristotle, who flourished over 2200 years ago, speaks 

 of three different species of the honey-bee, as well known in 

 his time. The lest variety he describes as " /iikqA, grgoyyi^ 

 y.ai noixlli'i ;" that is, small and round as to size and 

 shape, and variegated as to color. 



Virgil, in his 4th book of Georgics, speaks of two kinds 

 as flourishing in his lime ; the better of the two he thus 

 describes : 



" Elucent aliae, et fulgore coruscant, 

 Ardentes auro, et paribus lita corpora gattis. 

 Hinc potior soboles ; hinc-coeli tempore certo 

 Dulcia mella premes." 



The better variety, it will be seen, he characterizes as spot- 

 ted or variegated, and of a beautiful golden color. 



Until quite recently, Apiarians have believed Virgil's 

 description of the different kind of bees, to be quite as 

 fabulous as his notions that the bees gathered their young 

 from the leaves and flowers ; but let us laugh as we will, at 

 his physiological conceits, in such practical matters as came 

 under his observation, he has left us rules upon which we 

 cannot well improve. Strange to say, within a few years, 



