Plinics Naturall Hiftorie* 



Of the Drom-heesi 



'T^Hehoufcs and habitatiGHis that Bees build firft^ Gommbns '.which being ^ni- 



Y {hedjthey fetin hand with a pallacc for thcit king* Iftheyforcfcc that it will bea good fea- 

 fon^ and that they are like to gather ftore of provi toy ibey make pavilio^^ 

 Drones. And albeit they be of ihcmfelves bigger than the^ety Bees, yettake they up die leaft 

 lodgings.Now thiefe Drones be without any ftingatalljas bne wouldfay unperfedEeeSjand the 

 laft fruit of fuch old ones as are wearie and able to doe no more good 5 ihc very latter brood and 

 cncreafc, and to fay a truth, no better than (laves to the right Bees indeed i And therefore the 

 ouicrs as mailkr Bees over them, have them at their commandement : if any drudgerie or fuch 

 like bufiaefle is to be done, out are they fent firft : make they but flow haft in that they are fes 

 about/ure they are to pay for it, and to be punifhed without mercie. And not only in their ordi- 

 narie worke they ferve them in good ftcadjbut alfo they helpe them to multiplie : for the hotter 

 thattheplace isj themorc hope there is of a greater incrcafe.Certes, this is found by experi- 

 ence. That the better the hive is peopled with a number of Bees, theCaftwhen time comes 

 Will be the greatcr,and the oftener will they fwarme. But after the honie is growing once to ma- 

 turitic and peifeclioujtiien begin they to drive thefe Drones outofdores :nay,ye (hail have ma- 

 ny Bees fet upon one poore Drone,and kill him outright.So that a man iliali not lightly fee any 

 of: that kind but in the Spring time. 



If one plucke off the wings from a Drone, and put him againe within the hive, he will ne- 

 ver linuntill he have done the like byall the ref\ of the fame kind. Astouching theroiallpalla- 

 ces for the kings and captaincs that fhall bee, built they ave all moflftately, great of receit, in 

 fhcw magnificent, feated by thcmfelves apart, and like citadels raifed upon fome high knap OE 

 tuft of a mountaine . If one of thefe caflles chance to be prcfTed or crulhedjthere wi!l no more 

 come of that princely race. All the lodgings and rouraes where the Bees abode is, are fix corne- 

 red, according to the number of feet emploied in that worke. None of all this is done at any 

 fet time or day appointed : but they take the opportunitie when they can efpie faire weather to fit 

 their bufinefie, and fo doc thefe things by fnatches^ And furely within a day or two at the mofl^ 

 they fill their flore-houfes witbhonie. 



Chap. XII, 



}^Tk nature of Honki 



THis pleafant and fweet liquor which we call honie, is engendred naturally in the aire, and 

 efpecialiyby the infiuenceandrifingof fome flarres:but principally during the fervent 

 heat of the canicular daies, even when the Dog tlarre is in his full power and force .-ne- 

 ver before the appearing of the fhrre Vergilise, butalwaies before day. For fo about she day 

 breake betimes in the morning, the leaves of trees are found bedewed with honnie: and looke 

 whofoever they are, that have occafion to be abroad in the aire about the dawning of the mor- 

 row, they may evidently perceive their clothes wet with a clammie humour of honie, yea, and 

 their haires glewed therewith togcther,if they goebate headed. Bee it what it will, either a cer» 

 taine fwcatof theskie, or fome unduous gellie proceeding from the ihrres, or rather a li- 

 quor purged from the aire when it purifieth it felfe 5 would God wee had it fo pure, focleare, 

 and fo naturall, and in the owne kind refined, as when it defcendeth firfl,whethcr it be from skie, 

 from ftarre, or from the aire . For even now fuch as it is, palTing (as it were) through fo many 

 hands :namely,falling from a region fo high and remote from us, and in the way as it com- 

 meth catching much filth ;and namely, infeded with the groffe vapour of the earth which it 

 meeteth in the fall : moreover, fucked and drunke (as it is) by the Bees from the leaves of trees 

 and grafTe, and fo gathered and laid up in their little bellies or bladders, (forat their mouth 

 theyfpre«i^nd calf it up againeO corrupted alfo and fophifticated with other humors drawne 

 out of flowers ^finally, fo long loking within the hives, and fuffering fo many alterations :ycc 

 for all the forrow^a great refemblance it carrieth (till with it of a mollpleafant/wect^and coelc- 

 ftiali liquor* 



£ e ij Chap, 



