NATURAL HISTORY, 97° 
Such are the out-lines of the natural hiftory of thefe animals, as ufu- 
ally found in our own country. How they are treated, fo as to pro- 
Uce the greateft quantity of honey, belongs rather to the rural ceco- 
Nomift, than the natural hiftorian; volumes have been written on the 
Ubje@; and ftill more remains equally curiots and new. One thing, 
Nowever, it may be proper to obferve that a farm, or country, may be 
- SVer-ftocked with bees, as with any other fort of animal ; for a certain 
Number of hives, always require a certain number of flowers to fub- 
ut on, When the flowers near home are rifled, then are thefe indul 
‘tious infects feen takirig more extenfive ranges, but their abilities may 
© over taxed; and if they are obliged, in queft of honey, to go too 
‘ar from home, they are over-wearied in the purfuit; they are devoured 
Y birds, or beat down by the winds and rain. 
From a knowledge of this, in fome parts of France and Piedmont; 
ey have contrived, as I have often feen, a kind of floating bee-houfe. 
They have on board one barge, threefcore or an hundred bee-hives, 
ell defended from the inclemency of an accidental florm; and with 
thefe the owners fuffer themfelves to float gently down the river. As 
the bees are continually choofing their flowery pafture along the banks 
Sf the ream, they are furnifhed with fweets before unrified ; and thus 
8 fingle floating bee-houfe, yields the proprietor a confiderable income. 
Why a method fimilar to this has never been adopted in England, 
ere we have more gentle rivers, and more flowery banks, than in 
any other part of the world, I know not; certainly it might be turned 
© advantage, and yield the poffeffor a fecure, though perhaps a moder 
Tate income. tana hg he? 
aving mentioned the induftry of thefe admirable infects, it will be 
Proper to fay fomething of the effeéts of their labour, of that wax and 
Aoney, which are turned by man to fuch various ufes. Bees gather 
‘Wo kinds of wax, one coarfe and the other fine. he coarfer fort is bit- 
ter, and with this, which is called propolis, they ftop up all the holes and 
vices of their hives. It is of a more refinous nature than the fine waxy 
8nd is confequently better qualified to refift the moilture of the feafong 
and preferve the works warm and dry within. ‘The fine wax is as necef- 
@ry to the animal’s prefervation as the honey itfelf, With this they make 
tir lodgings, with this they cover the cells of their young, and in this’ 
they lay up their magazines of honey. ‘This is made, as has been alrea- 
*Y obferved, from the duft of flowers, which is carefully kneaded by the 
“ttle infe@:, then fwallowed, and having undergone a kind of digeftion, 
8 formed into the cells; which anfwers fuch a variety of purpofes. To 
& le@ this, the animal rolls itfelf in the flower it would rob, and thus 
-;*kes up the vegetable duft with the hair of its body. ‘Then carefully 
euthing it into a lump, with its fore paws it thruils the compofition 
Nto two cavities behind the thighs, which are made like fpoons to re- 
“Wve the wax, and the hair that lines them, ferves to keep it from falling. 
_ A\s of wax; there are alfo two kinds of honey: The white and the’ 
Yellow, The white is taken without fire from the honey-combs,’ 
© yellow is extracted by heat, and {queezed through bags,'in a prefs, 
- beft honey is new, thick, and granulated, of a clear tranfparent 
a Honey made in mountainous countries, is preferable to that of 
"© valley, ‘The honey made in the fpring, is more highly eftéemed,’ 
’ a = than! 
te colour, of a foft and aromatic fmell, and of a {weet and lively. 
