of Bee-hives in Scotland. 45 
be fufficient to reply, that the induftrious pro- 
prietor, having done every thing in his power to 
fupply 
them, he told me, “ they belonged to his mezghbour, who lived 
‘“‘ a few yards from him.””—“ Perhaps not,” replied I, ‘ for a 
“bee will fly far for food in fine weather: and, therefore, thefe 
“ bees may come from Leith, or fome other place as far diftant, 
“ while your neighbour’s bees may fly as far as Leith for their 
loading.”” : : 
As for the reafon why bees will fometimes travel a mile or 
more for a heavy loading, when they could get the fame quanti- 
ty and equally good, from the fame fpecies of flowers within a 
few yards, I can fcarcely hazard a conjecture; unlefs it be, that 
perhaps fome of the old and experienced bees, from a miftaken 
apprehenfion, may fuppofe thofe flowers near their hives to have 
been exhaufted, by the moft part of the hive having had conftant 
accefs to them, and feeding on them; as 1s faid of the old cattle, 
that they commonly feed on the borders of their pafture grounds, 
where few of the younger cattle have previonfly fed. But, as a 
proof of the fad, let any perfon who has one or two hives, with a- 
bundance of flowers to keep his bees conftantly employed, within 
100 yards of their hives, make the experiment, by going to ano- 
ther place, where there are alfo flowers growing 109¢ yards dii- 
tant from his own, or any other perfons bees, and he will find a 
great number of bees at work on the diftant flowers. 
But though fome bees, by being expeditious travellers, feem to 
difregard diftance, and to be fond of undertaking long journeys 
even when loaded, yet, in general, I believe, the greater part 
of them are wife enough to colle& their loading as near their 
hives as poflible. And, therefore, the nearer the flowers are fitu- 
ated, the more work will they perform, and the greater quan- 
tity of honey will be carried home ina day. For this reafon, I 
have already advifed the hives to be always placed as near as 
pofible to plenty of provifions. 
