Curious Customs and Beliefs 343 



the bees are allowed to partake in the rejoicings they will 

 go away. 



For bees to leave their home without good cause por- 

 tends the near death of their owner. It is also considered 

 unlucky for bees to swarm upon dead wood, as for instance 

 a post, a dead tree, or the dead branch of a living tree. 

 In some places this means that the bees themselves will 

 perish, in others that a death will occur in the family within 

 a year. 



It is a common superstition that ill-fortune attends the 

 killing of bees. 



It is a widespread superstition that bees must not be 

 bought with money but must be exchanged for some product 

 of nature, though in some parts of England bees may be 

 bought with gold. Hence in many places the usual price 

 of a swarm of bees is half- a- sovereign, to be paid in gold. 



One starting bee-keeping in Germany should begin with 

 the lucky number of three hives, and he prospers best 

 who buys the first swarm, has the second given to him, 

 and finds the third. But in England it is unlucky to buy 

 the first stock, which should always be given, the custom 

 being to offer something, as a small pig, in return. 



He who steals bees steals from himself good luck, as 

 stolen bees never prosper. 



In Bavaria and other places bees must not be bought 

 or transported on Friday, which is considered an unlucky 

 day. 



Moreover, bees will not prosper in a quarrelsome family, 

 and particularly if there are dissensions between husband 

 and wife. 



Nor do they thrive in time of war. 



There is in Germany a superstition that the bees will 

 die if a nail from a coffin is laid in their hive, or driven 

 into it. 



