EEC 
BEE 
guedoc; they abound in the north; and they are 
jbmetimes feen in the Rhone, the Garrone, the 
Danube, the Rhine, and the Viilula. They are 
alfo found in great plenty in the Ruflian Afiatic 
dominions; but they are by far the moft nume- 
rous in North America. Their flelli, when pre- 
ferved by being dried in the fmoke, is efteemed 
very delicious; but their tails are reckoned the moft 
favour y parts. 
Beaver, Musk. The Muflc Beaver has a thick 
obtufe nofe ; large eyes ; and fhort eaj-s, which 
are alrnoft hid in die fur. The toes on each foot 
are feparated, the hind ones being fringed on each 
fide with ftrong hair clofely fet together; the tailj 
which is comprelTed fide- ways, is very thin at the 
edo-es, and covered with fcales intermixed with a few 
hairs ; the head and body are of a reddifh brown 
colour; and the breaft and belly are afh-coloured 
tinged with red. The length of the body, from die 
nofe to the tail, is about twelve inches ; that of the 
tail is about nine inches ; and the whole figure ex- 
aftly reprefents the common Beaver in miniature. 
The Mulk Beaver is a native of North Airicrica; 
and breeds three or four times a year, bringing 
forth from three to fix at a time : the male and fe- 
male confort togedier during the fummer; and 
when winter approaches, the animals unite their fa- 
milies, and retire into fmall round edifices covered 
with domes compofed of plants and reeds cemented 
with clay. At the bottoms of thefe buildings there 
are feveral conduits, through which they pafs in 
fearch of food ; and for this they have daily occa- 
fion, as they pofiTefs none of the provident forefight 
. of the common Beaver. Their habitations, dur- 
^ ing the winter feafon, are covered many feet deep 
with fnow and ice; but they frequently creep out, 
and feed on the roots which lie beneath. They 
ere£t new habitations every year, and defert their 
old ones. 
The fur of this animal is very foft, and much 
valued; and it's flefli has an exquifite mulky fmell 
during the fummer feafon. 
Beaver, Sea. This animal has not the fmalleft 
refemblance to the common Beaver; but was at firft 
fo called merely from the downy foftnefs of it's hair. 
It is as large as the fea-cat: it's fhape refembles 
that of the feal, excepting it's head, which is like 
that of abear ; it's fore-feet are longer than it's hind- 
feet; if s teeth are fmall; it's tail is fhort and flat, 
and {harp towards the point ; and it's hair is thick, 
and black as pitch: that of old Beavers is grey; 
and that of young ones is long, brownifh, and re- 
markably foft. 
This is the moft peaceable of all fea animals ; for 
it never makes any refiftance, but only endeavours 
to fave itfelf by flight. The females are very af- 
feflionate to their young, and carry fuch as cannot 
fwim on dieir bellies between ; heir fore- feet; for, 
till the little ones are capable of fwimming, the mo- 
thers fwim on their backs. When the fifliermen 
purfue them, they never quit their ofl^spring till the 
very laft extremity ; and, if they happen to let them 
flip, prefently retiirn to the place from whence their 
cries are heard. 
There are three ways of catching Sea-Beavers : 
fiirft, by nets placed among the fea- cabbage, whi- 
ther the animals retire in the night-time, or during 
ftorms ; fecondly, by chacing them in boats; and, 
thirdly, by killing them on the ice. 
BECASSINE. A name given by feveral na- 
turalifts to the tringa minor; or, as it is ufually 
called with us, the fand-piper. 
BECCIFAGO. A fmall bird wliich feeds on^ 
vegetables, berries, and other fuiits; and is com- 
monly feen in the north of England, wlxere it ob- 
tains the name of the petty-chaps. It is fcarcely 
fo large as the common linnet; and is remarkable 
for the fliortnefs of it's body. It's head, neck, 
back, wings, and tail, are generally of a greenifh 
grey; but, in fome, it is of a greenifli brown. 
BECUNE; or, WEST-INDIAN SEA PIKE. 
This fifli bears a ftrong refemblance to the river 
pike, except that it is confiderably larger, being 
Ibmetimes eight feet long. It pofl^eflfes very vo- 
racious appetites; and is extremely dangerous ia ' 
it's own element, becaufe capable of biting with 
more facility than the fliark. It's flefli has the 
fame tafte as that of the frefti-water pike : but there 
is much danger in eating it; for, unlefs the teeth 
appear white, and the liver retains a fweet Imell, it 
is highly deleterious. 
BEE. A well-known infeft; the hiftory and 
oeconomy of which, though they have engaged the 
ftudy of naturalifts, at different periods, for a feries 
of near two thoufand years and upwards, are ftill 
but imperfedly afcertained . Reaumur, indeed, who 
fpent a great part of his life in the contemplation 
of this little animal, has furnifned us with a de- 
fcription fufficiently minute : but, hurried away by 
an enthufiaftic admiration of the fubjeft of his re- 
fearches, he has afcribed qualities and habitudes to 
this curious race which moft naturalifts are now apt 
to confider as extravagant. 
It is certain that every hive is compofed of three 
difierent forts of Bees. The firft fort confifts of 
thofe called labouring Bees, which are by far the 
moft numerous, and are generally regarded as neu- 
tral, being neither male nor female, but apparent- 
ly produced for the purpofes of labour, and for 
fupplying the young Bees with provifions while in 
an adolefcent ftate. The fecond fort is that called 
drones; which are of a darker liue, as well as 
larger, and longer by a third, than the former : and 
of thefe, which are fuppofed to be the males, 
there is feldom above one hundred in a hive con- 
fifting of feveral thoufands. The third fort, which 
is that called queen Bees, and who are fiid to lay 
all the eggs from which the v/hole Iwarm is hatch- 
ed, is miuch larger than either of the former, and 
ftill lefs plentiful : fome naturalifts have afferted, 
that there is only one in each fwarm; but later en- 
quirers into the oeconomy of Bees affirm that there 
are frequently five or fix. 
If v/e examine the ftru6fure of the common Bee, 
the firft remarkable part which prefents itfelf is the 
trunk, an inftrument ferving to extrad; honey from 
flowers : it is not formxcd, like that of other flies, 
in the fliape of a tube, by which the fluid is to be 
fucked up; but rather like a tongue, to lick it 
away. The infe£t is alfo furnifhed with teeth, 
v/^hich aflift it in making wax: this fubftance, 
which is collefted from flowers, like honey, con- 
fifts of that duft or farina which contributes to the 
fecundation of plants, and is moulded into wax at 
leifure. Every Bee, when it leaves the hive in 
queft of this precious ftore, enters into the cups of 
fuch flowers as feem to be charged with the 
greateft quantities of yellow farina. As tiie body 
of the animal is entirely covered with hair, it rolls 
itfelf within the flower, and foon becomes en- 
tirely enveloped in this duft, which it afterwards 
bruflies off with it's two hind-legs, and kneads 
into two little bails. In the thighs of it's hind-legs 
there are two fmall cavities, edeed with hair : and 
U intQ 
