


a 

316 THE INSECT WORLD. 
Réaumur, John Hunter, Schirach, and Francis Huber, had 
unveiled, by their admirable researches, the wonderful habits of 
these insects. The discoveries of Francis Huber seem to be almost 
miraculous, when we remember that this observer was blind from 
the age of seventeen. 
Deprived of sight, Francis Huber did not the less wish to conse- 
crate his life to the observation and the study of nature. He 
caused the best works of his day on natural history and physics to 
be read to him, his usual reader being his servant, named Francis 
Burnens, a native of the Pays de Vaud. The honest Burnens took 
a singular interest in all he read, and showed by his judicious 
reflections the true talent of an observer, and Huber resolved to 
cultivate this talent. Very soon he could place implicit reliance 
in his companion, and see with another’s eyes as if they were his 
own. 
The two naturalists (we do not hesitate to give this title to the 
poor peasant of the canton of Vaud, who so well seconded his 
master in his long hours of study) conceived a host of original 
experiments, which led them to discover truths which no one up 
to that time had dreamt of. The results of their researches were 
published, in 1789, in a volume which produced a profound sensa- 
tion among naturalists.* Burnens was at a later period called 
back to the bosom of his family, and invested by his fellow-citizens 
with important functions. Francis Huber then continued his 
observations through the eyes of the excellent wife he had married. 
A second volume was thus composed by him twenty years after 
the appearance of the first. This volume was published by his 
son, Pierre Huber, to whom we are indebted for the admirable 
researches concerning ants, of which we shall have to speak 
further on. 
We will now speak of the habits of bees. The labours of 
Réaumur, of Schirach, and of Huber, have perfectly revealed them 
to us, and have initiated us completely into the habits of these 
precious insects, which are for us, to a certain extent, domestic 
animals. We will begin by describing the Common Bee (Apis 
mellifica). 
* “Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles,’ par Francois Huber. Paris et 
Genéve, in 8V°. 2¢ edition. 1814. 




