Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/152

148, we are satisfied that this insect is subject only to one malady, namely, dysentery. Vertigo has been spoken of by many writers, especially on the continent, as one of their ailments, but, we think, without sufficient grounds. We have occasionally seen bees in that state of dizziness which is ascribed to vertigo, but have invariably found that when seized and held in the hand for a second or two, and again let go, they return to their usual occupation without any marks of disease. Swelling of the antennæ is also mentioned as a bee-malady,—we have never seen an instance of it, and, from its being unnoticed even by many of those naturalists who have furnished long lists of the disorders of bees, it seems to have as little foundation in reality as vertigo. In fact, dysentery appears to be the only serious disorder to which these insects are liable, and various causes have been assigned for it, such as their feeding on honey-dew, on the juices of certain fruits, on plants of a poisonous nature, on honey alone without a due mixture of pollen, &c. &c. No evidence from accurate experiment has been adduced in favour of these theories, and, perhaps, their inapplicability is established by the fact that a well peopled hive is never assailed by this disorder, provided its inmates are in the full enjoyment of their liberty. We are led to conclude, therefore, that it proceeds simply from long confinement, by which the necessary evacuations are prevented. It is well known that the bees, when in health, never void their excrement within the hive. When their owners, therefore, from mistaken care,