The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-04-25
Bee HMntimn IM .IMsl,nlla.

The wild bee Of Australia differs little IN sizc
| and appearance from our common housciiy aud
| is singles. Most Of the trees Ia that country
arc hollow. aud Il Is In the cavities Of The brau-
ehcs iha, the bees deposit their honey ~ a cynli-
derablo distance from the ground. II Is OF au
aromatic taste, and chiefly gathered from the
leaves and blossoms Of the different trees tina,
cloihe the whole country, FROM the SUBMITS oi
the mountains 10 the sea-shorc, with the txcrp'
lion Of occasional plains, which are OF rare uc-
currencc. by the ahorigines OF Australia ihis
honey is regarded MS u great luxury, aud % i4
interesting TO note with what sagucliy thcy con-
trive 10 indulge their taste for t--scarchug b.
out with iniallible eyesighi, and with amazing
dclicacy OF touch Their method oi iindin these
natural hives, which are no: numerous, is 'ir-
Gus, not only from the fact that the most n!4Hir
observation and the most delicate manipulation
mus, have been required TO enable the ingcniu.
Of u 10 succeed, but also because u display d
knowledge Of the natural history OF the insect.
such As cnn venture 10 say, large portion ui
the civilized world does not possess.
From the absence iu many parts OF the bush OF
AgsifHis Of iioweTs, the little native bec may l'
seen husily working on the bark oi the trees, un-
like the bee Of this country, which Is ever Ga thc
move from flower TO flower, IL seems 10 be- Un-
conscious Of danger. This may HTisr from ilr
vas,ness Of the soliiudcs in Australia which are
seldom or ever disturbed, except by n passing
tribe, OF by Is own wild dcuizens, which arc Tar
FROM numerous. The b,c is therefore easily ape
pr ,,chcd and Tire bright clear atmosphere "f h'
climate u peculiarly favorable 10 the pursuit.
4 party at two oT three natives armed with
ton,ahaWk, sally forth into the bush. having fr
viously provided themselves With The soft white
dow frum the breast of some bird which isNcft
light IN texture, and at the same time Srrt huiIy
With that wonderful quickness ~ si-ht whirh
practice has rendered perfect, they desrgt the li
tie brownish leadcn-colorcd insect on the haIh,
aud rolling up an end OF the down feather io th'
fines, possible pon, between ih,ir fingers the,
dip u into q gummy substance, whicl i'ccIli.r
sort Of herb exudes when ihc stem is htoh,n The,
then cautiously approach the Tee, anl 81 ii' gr'7i
deiracy Or touch place the cnmiurl f,ir' unur
the hind legs Oi the bee. II at once hdh,l' TA.p
comes the result. for which all hi. fi,l .rt'iou
has teen made. The bee, feeling ih" nii .'i.tt ..
weight fanccs b. has done Iii i'-h H'.d ..,'i..'
with honey, aud iiies of the ir'r un hi- h"iH..
ward Journey, at not a great distance from %.
ground The small white feather u nov ali tiHt
can b. lisrcrntd aud the hunt ~ once commenr,s
Running on foot amid broken branches and -to
ny ground requires, one would think, The iid 90
one eyesighI but with the native Australia
II 10 not 30. Without for n moment taking the.t
eyes oif the ohjrci they follow Il, sometime O"
the distance Of half = mile, aud rarely. u rttt.
fal 10 marking the very branch where ;hr! 50"
the little bit OF white down disappear ai tie ,n-
trance of the hive. Here there IL halt. The it'l
Is found, and they sii dow 10 regain their breath
before ascending the tree, and 10 light irr, 9"
which Old and Young men, wOinrn. and children.
arr extremely partial.
When the rcst and smoke are over, With oH,
arm round the tree, and the iomlhawk IN %,
other, the black man cuts noiches In the iafh.
aud placing the big toe in the n0ichcs. ascend,
this hastily reconstructed stair, till he come ip
where the branches commence then, putting the
handle Of the tomahawk between his teeth hc
IL A. a n
he reaches the branch where last b. the w hit,
down disappear he then carefully SOUNDS Tho
branches with the back Of his ioinahawk til thu
dull rs distinct from the hollow sound tells hil.
where the hive is a hole Is then ca', and O.
puts his hand in and takes the honcy out O.
alone the savage eats when up the tree till D..
can eat no more, and leaves the rest hut iiw.f.
others ho cuts square piece o! bark, anl af,
has ing had the part Of the hive as reward ',t
his excsiion brings down mass Of honey au.
comb mixed up together which, though nu
vi'ing, is greedily devoured by those below