Bees
It is maintained by certain demonologists that if a sorceress ate a queen-bee before being captured, she would be able to sustain her trial and tortures without making a confession. In some parts of Brittany it is claimed for these insects that they are very sensitive to the fortunes and misfortunes of their master, and will not thrive unless he is careful to tie a piece of black cloth to the hive when a death occurs in the family, and a piece of red cloth when there is any occasion of rejoicing. Solinus writes that there are no bees in Ireland, and even if a little Irish earth be taken to another country, and spread about the hives, the bees will be forced to abandon the place, so fatal to them is the earth of Ireland. The same story is found in the Origines of Isodore. "Must we seek," says Lebrun, "the source of this calumny of Irish earth ? No; for it is sufficient to say that it is a fable, and that many bees are to be found in Ireland." Belin, Albert: A Benedictine, born at Besançon in 1610. His principal works are a treaty on talismans and a dissertation upon astral figures, published at Paris in 1671, and again in 1709. He also wrote Sympathetic Powder Justified, an alchemical work, and Adventures of an unknown philosopher in the search for and the manufacture of the Philosopher's Stone. This latter work is divided into four books and speaks very clearly of the manner in which the stone is made. (Paris, 1664 and 1674).
Bell, Dr.: (See Spiritualism.) Belle-Fleur, La: (See Antichrist.) Bellenden, Sir Lewis: (See Scotland.)