Plinies Naturall Hiflorie. 515 



A gliiig witball other juices that are more unfavoric, gathered from the bitterefl hearhes they can 

 get : to the end that they might keepe out other little vcrmines that are greedie of their honnie ; 

 as knowing full vjell, that they are about a peeccof worke which is worthie to be defircd and 

 fought after. Of this guminie and glutinous fubftance they frame alfo their dores and entries 

 which are wide and large. 



Chap. vn. 



f '^Thefro^ertearmesbdongingto their mrke, 



THefirft foundation of theirworkc, skilfullhonic-maiftcrs doe call Commofis :thefecond 

 Piflbceros: the third Propolis^which lieth betwcenethofe former coats and the waxe of this 

 honie-combcjwhereof thereis fo great ufe inPhyfickeiCommofis is that firft coat or crtift 

 of a bitter tail .PilToceroscommeth next after it5as it were a thinner coUrfe of pitch or varniilij 

 and a weaker kind of waxe, made of the more liquid and mild gum of vines and Poplars. But 

 Propolis confifteth of a morefolide matter,as having the ftrengthoffomcfloures withalhhow- 

 beit^as yetitisnofullandperfe<5lwaxe, but the foundation and ftrengthcning of the combes : 

 and ferveth as a good defence againfl: cold, and to flop the palTage of wafpes and fuch hurtful! 

 creatures as would doe injurie to the Bees, forftillaftrongfent it carrieth, as which 5many men 

 doeufeinftcadof Galbanura. Afterihis munition done, then followeth the provifion of that 

 which iscalledErithace/ometearmcit Sandarachajand others^Cerinthus.This muilfervefor 

 G the Bees mcatj whereof they are to live whiles they worke : and found it is oftentimes^ laid apart 

 within the concavities of their combs^it being alfo of a bitter taff. Now this Eritbace commeth 

 of the ^Spring-dewj and themoiftureifluing out of trees in manner of gummc.-inieflcabun- ♦j^-e-ufrrw, 

 dance ever, when the Southweff wind bloweth :but when it is full South,more blacke : and in the orSe?.- dc\T, 

 Northerly conflitution, farre better and more red withall. Great flore hereof. Bees meet with ^'"^ 

 upon Alfnond trees. WAemcraUs iaith,That it is a flower forefbewipg what harveft (hall enfue: 



* but no man faith fobeiides him, •Being decei- 



ved With the 



Chap, VIII. Homonymic 



of the word 



What flowers they he which Bees firve themf-lvei mH mhall Schba'th a 



for their mrke, double %ni- 



• * ficacion. 



AS for waxCj Bees gather and make it of the flowers of all trees, hearbes, andplants,favirig 

 the docke and ^goofc-foot, which are two kinds of hearbes. Some except alfo a kind of * Chenopode. 

 Broome called Spart.-but untruly s for in Spaine (where diere be many places full of that 

 fhrub) the honie carrieth the flrength thereof in the taft .1 am befides of opinion jthat they be de- 

 ccivcdgwho thinke that Bees gather not of Olive trees. For we fee it ordinarie^ihat there be more 

 cafts and ivvarmes of Bees where Olives grow in gieater abundancc.Thefe pretie creatures hurt 

 no fruit whatfoever. They will not fettle upon a flower tha't is faded,and much leflc of any dead 

 carkafie . They ufe not togoe from their hive about their bufinefle . above threefcore paces. 

 And if it chaunce, that within the precinulof thefe limits they find not flowers futTicient:.out 

 goe their fpies, whom they fend forth to diicover forage farther off; If in this expedition^ be- 

 fore, they come home againe, they bee Qvertiken by the night, they couch upon their backes 

 for feare leaft their wings fhouid bee overcharged with the evening dewj and fo they watch all 

 night iimilhhe morning. 



Chap, ix, 



^ Thfe that have taken a Jpeciallplenfire in Been 



SVch is the induilrie of this creature, that no man need to wonder at thofe two perfbns 

 who delighted fo much in them, that the one ( namely K^risiomAchui o{ Soli) for three- 

 fcore yeares lacking but twaine, did nothing els but keepeBees jand Philifcm the Thafian 

 cmploied the wliole time of his life in forrefls and defarts, to follow thefe little animals : where- 

 upon bee was furnamed Agrim^ And both thefe upon their knowledge and experience, wraic 

 of Bscs. 



E e Chap, 



D 



