186 HANDLING BEES. 



for the comfort of man. In the early ages of the world, 

 and indeed until quite modern times, honey was almost the 

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

 with milk 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, without 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. 



379. One of the peculiarities which constitutes the foun- 

 dation of the present system of management, and indeed of 

 the possibility of domesticating at all so irascible an insect, 

 has never to our knowledge been clearly stated as a great 

 and controlling principle by any one before Mr. Langstroth. 

 It may be thus expressed : 



A honey-bee when heavily laden with honey never volunteers 

 an attack^ hut 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 

 propelhng 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 hive a swarm (428) 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 operations immediately in 

 their new habitation, and being in no danger of starving, if 

 several stormy days should follow their emigration. 



380. While swarming, bees issue from their hives in the 

 most peaceable mood imaginable ; and unless abused allow 

 themselves to be treated with the greatest familiarity. The 



• This etatement has been contradicted by a lugb antliority, but we persist In 

 affirming it, and win adduce seTeral proofs in diffeient passages. 



