794. BEE, The Honey.—
The honey-bee
is not a native of our continent. Maregrove,
indeed, mentions a species of honey-bee in
Brazil. But this has no sting, and is therefore
different from the one we have, which resembles
perfectly that of Europe. The Indians
concur with us in the tradition that it was
brought from Europe; but when, and by whom,
we know not. The bees have generally extended
themselves into the country, a little in
advance of the white settlers. The Indians,
therefore, call them the white man's fly, and
consider their approach as indicating the approach
of the settlements of the whites.—
Notes on Virginia. Washington ed. viii, 319.
Ford ed., iii, 175.
(1782)
