20 Pafturage of Bees. 
on it; which inclines me to think it 1s not an 
effiux of air, as fome fuppofe, but rather a per- 
{piration of fome of the fineft particles of the — 
fap of plants, which, evaporating through the ' 
pores, afterwards condenfes upon the leaves, 
At fuch favourable opportunities, the bees will 
doubtlefs foon fill their hives with honey ; 
but I am of opinion, that fuch happy feafons 
are generally very fhort, and that for many 
years they laft but a very few days; and in 
fome cold years, perhaps they {carcely occur at 
all. ; | 
Some writers believe, that when the liquor 
which the bees collect, has been for fome time 
in their ftomachs, it comes from thence chang- 
ed into true honey; the liquor having been 
there properly digefted, and rendered thicker 
than when it entered, Others are of opinion, 
that the bee makes no alteration in the honey, . 
but collects this delicious {yrup juft as nature 
produces it, and firft fills her bag, and then 
difcharges it into the magazine; which ap- 
pears to me to be the moft probable opinion ; 
as I have fometimes taken a bee from a flower 
the moment fhe was colle@ting the honey, and 
torn her afunder, (although with the ereatelt 
reluctance,) 
ee 
