THE HONEY-BEE. 
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the rains were unceasing, though never very heavy, 
we sent four hives to the heath ; hut brought them 
back again considerably diminished in weight. 
Along with the deprived hives — that is, those from 
which a portion of their stores have been taken, — 
there should he sent to enjoy the benefit of change 
of pasture, such swarms of the season as had emi- 
grated late, or had been unusually small ; and to 
give them a better chance of success, two of this de- 
scription should be united before their removal. 
Their station on the new pasture-ground should not 
he less than three miles distant from the apiary, 
otherwise they may find their way hack to their 
original resting-place, and perish. The flight of the 
Bee, according to Huber, extends generally about 
half-a-league. If that Naturalist meant a German 
league, as he probably did, according to this calcula- 
tion, a bee will flv at least two English miles in 
quest of food. The proof of the correctness of this 
opinion is given in a note by M. Lombard and in an 
unpublished letter of Huber, of date April 1810 
which is quoted by M. Lombard in his Treatise. “At 
the time of the revolution, M. Huber lived at Cour, 
near to Lausanne. He had the lake on one side of 
his domicile, and vineyards on the other. He soon 
perceived the disadvantage of his position (as re- 
garded his bees.) When the orchards at Cour had 
shed their blossoms, and the few meadows in the 
neighbourhood had been mown, he found the stores 
of his stock-hives diminishing daily ; the labours of 
the bees ceased so entirely, that even in summer they 
