THE BEE. 287

his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But
Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with
the oath; wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that
was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put
his hand to his mouth.” Amidst the superstition here re-
corded, it is interesting to note the habits of the wild bees,
which may be gathered from the above description: the
honey is spoken of first as being on the ground, and this,
though not a very common occurrence, is not incompatible
with the habits of the wild bee, as, for want of a better situ-
ation, these insects will form their combs in small hollows,
or in holes made by animals.

The story of Samson, recorded in Judges xiv., will here
occur to the reader’s memory, when a “swarm of bees, and
honey” were found “in the carcase of the lion” which
Samson had killed, and which gave rise to the celebrated
riddle, “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the
strong came forth sweetness,” and from which resulted such
disastrous consequences to the Philistines. It may appear
strange that so clean a creature as the bee should select
such an apparently offensive place for a habitation; but it
must be remembered that some months had elapsed before
Samson’s second visit to the scene of his exploit,—ample