Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

SENSES OF BEES.
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ioney of some of the American provinces is
' ?ven said to be of the most deleterious na-
' ;ure. Neither do bees despise the secre-
;ions of aphides, notwithstanding of so im-
pure an origin : nor do they testify greater
' nicety in the quality of their water, for the
‘ tnost corrupted marshes and ditches seem
preferred to the most limpid streams, nay,
1 to dew itself.
; Nothing, therefore, is more unequal than
‘ the quality of honey. The produce of one
district differs from that of another: the
lioney of spring is unlike that of autumn :
inor do the contents of a certain hive al¬
ways resemble those of the hive adjoining.
If bees have little choice in their nutrU
' incut, and are not delicate in regard to the
quality of honey, they are far from testify-.
Ing the same indifference as to the quantity
contained in flowers. They constantly re-,
sort where most is to be found. They quit
their hive much less in regard to the fine¬
ness or temperature of the weather, than ac¬
cording to their prospects of a more plenti-
. ful or scanty collection. When the lime-
* tree and black grain blossom, they brave
the rain, they depart before sun-rise, and
t return later than ordinary. But this acti-