22 Pafturage of Bees. 
rent, as when it was firft colle@ed*. From all 
which confiderations, it appears plain to me, 
that bees are not the makers of honey, but on- 
ly colleGtors of it; and that the honey is in as 
ereat perfection in the flowers, before the bees 
touch it, if not better, than it is after it has paf- 
fed through their bodies. T 
* The author would not be underftood here, as if he meant 
that honey fuddenly underwent a change to the woife, as it will 
remain many months locked up in the hives without undergoing 
zny material change; yet, neverthelefs, it is certain, that honey’ 
is never better, than when it is newly depofited in the cells. 
¢+ Some alledge, that the fyrup in the flower, by pafhing 
though the body of the bee, undergoes a material change, and 
is thereby converted into real honey. But there is no analogy 
between the honey extracted by the bee, to be carried home to 
the hive, and the meant or drink taken into the ftomach by any 
other animal, to be digefted for its nourifhment. The former is 
retained in the bladder of the bee oniy a few minutes; where- 
as, the latter continues many honrs, and, by the operation of 
the gaftric fluid, is changed into chyle, blood, &c. The honey 
itfelf, when taken afterwards by the bees for the purpofe of | 
nourifhment, undergoes a fimilar change; but, in its firt ftate, 
when put into the cells, it hes undergone no change whatever. 
I was this day favoured with a letter from a very intelligent 
gentlemen, whofe opinion, on this fubje&, although quite dif. 
ferent from my own,—I fhall prefent to my reader. 
‘““ Honey does not exift in the plant in that form, but only be- 
comes fo by pafiing through the body of the bee. While it 
*f is in the flower, it conftitutes what is called its faccharine 
¢s 
6c juice 
