| 
| 
NATURAL HISTORY. 109 
dirty water, better than that which is qnite limpid. But fmoak will 
fanfe them to get at a diftance from it, and if they cannot readily, it 
€numbs them, and makes them lye as if they were dead; this is the 
Method fome make ufe of, to get part of the honey out of the hive. | 
his operation is performed at different times, in different countries ; 
but the beft is in the morning, after the Bees have been rendered lefs 
active by the coldnefs of the night, and then it will be almoft needlefs 
to fmoak them. However, in a warm feafon, when flowers are plen- 
ty, they may be made to pafs out of a hive that is full of wax and ho- 
Ney, into another that is quite empty ; but then the brood will be loft; 
that is, the eggs, the nymphs, and the worms ready to be changed 
to nymphs. When the honey is taken away, it is but reafonable, and 
€ven neceflary, to leave the Bees about half for their own ufe. 
In fome places, when the fummer is dry, and in confequence there- 
_ Of, the fields are lefs fruitful, then it is very difficult for the Bees to 
Sather a fufficient quantity of wax; but in thofe countries that are full 
Of meadows, that are well watered, and produce a fuccefiion of differ- 
nt flowers; or even if there are woods, which by their fhade, preferve 
the moiftnefs and coolnefs of the air, and by that means caufe the ve- 
Station of a great number of plants, in the hotteft part of fummer, 
en the Bees will find every thing in plenty, neceflary for their ufe. 
_ It was formely a cuftom of the Egyptians, to carry the hives up the 
‘iver Nile in boats, that the Bees might enjoy the benefit of the flowers 
at grew upon the banks; thus they,removed them from place to 
Place, that they might always enjoy the benefit of freth flowers. The 
Nations that live near the banks of the river Po, manage their Bees 
Much in the fame manner, as the ancient Egyptians; and the fame 
PraGtice has been recommended in France; but whether it has ever 
een done or not, is uncertain. Columella acquaints us, that the Greeks 
_ Were accuftomed every year, to remove the hives from Achaia into 
itica 3 and the fame thing is done at this very day, in the dutchy of 
Juliers, a diftti& of Weflphalia, in Germany. One perfon in particular, 
™ the territory, called Gatonis in France, has been at the pains of re- 
Moving his hives, after the harveft of Sainfoin, inte the plains of 
eauce, where the melilot abounds, and then into Salogne, where it is 
Well known the Bees may enjoy the advantage of Buck-wheat, till to- 
Wards the end of September, tor fo long that plant retains its flowers. 
~OWever this practice cannot be very agreeable to the Bees, becaufe 
®ir being carried in carts, difturbs them more, than if they were in 
ats upon the water. 
B Authors have given different accounts of the length of the life of 
Ses; but they have generally maintained, that they may live feveral 
: Years ; that is-as long as a hive retains plenty of inhabitants ; but this 
a bad reafon. Some affirm that Bees will live fix or feven years, 
Xd others upwards of twelve. Others again pretend to be certain, 
f at a third part in every hive, dies in autumn, and as many in the 
Ang s for which reafon they conclude, that they cannot live above a 
Ingle year. It is pretty certain, that the Bees of each hive, are re- 
“Cwed every year, or in two years time at moft.  - : 
It is generally acknowledged, that the habitation of Bees ought to 
: be Very clofe, and therefore it is their principal care, at firft when they: 
: are. 
