1 68 The Honey-Makers 



" Their eyesight is dull, for which reason in especial, 

 they seek the combs of bees, in order that, from the bees 

 stinging them in the throat and drawing blood, the oppres- 

 sion in the head may be relieved." 



In Poland and other parts of Russia the bear's fondness 

 for honey is taken advantage of by the wily hunters, who, 

 knowing Bruin's weakness, set bear-traps before the bee- 

 trees. 



Not only bears and Indians but white men as well 

 rejoice in the discovery of a bee-tree and undertake 

 almost any labor to get the honey from it. Burroughs, 

 in his "Idyl of the Honey-Bee," takes us on many interest- 

 ing and successful hunts for bee-trees. 



The hunter " lines " the bees by catching some and put- 

 ting them into a box containing honey. As soon as the 

 bee has filled itself with honey he allows it to fly, when it 

 rises up in the air to get its bearings and makes a "■ bee- 

 hne " for home. 



As soon as he is sure of the direction taken by the bees, 

 he moves the box and again watches their flight. The 

 bee-tree will be found at the point of intersection of the 

 two lines. This method of lining bees sounds extremely 

 easy on paper ; it is not so easy in the forest, however, as 

 anybody can discover by trying, though an experienced bee- 

 hunter often becomes remarkably skilful in quickly locating 

 the bee-trees. 



Bees have many enemies, as is but natural to those 

 possessing a treasure desired by so many other creatures. 

 Bears eat bees, honey and all, but they are not the only 

 four-legged honey thieves, as Reynard in some places has 

 a very bad reputation. Huish in his book upon bees says 

 of him : — ■ 



" These rascals of foxes eat the bees as well as the honey, 

 but it is the honey to which they are the most partial. For 



