Excerpt from The Naturalist's Library, Vol. 6

It will readily occur to every one that the loss of sight in Huber must not only have presented a very serious obstacle to the successful study of his favourite science, but must have had the effect also of throwing considerable doubt oii the accuracy of his experiments and the reality of his discoveries. His most devoted admirers and most unhesitating followers in every thing connected with the economy of Bees, are bound in candour to acknowledge, that his observations, reported, as they were, at second hand, and depend ing for their accuracy on the intelligence and fidelity of a half-educated assistant, were, of themselves, not entitled to be received without caution and distrust. Francis Burnens, his assistant, had no doubt entered with enthusiasm into the pursuit, and appears to have conducted the experiments not only with the most patient assiduity, but with great address and no small share of steadiness and courage, qualities indispensable in those who take liberties with the irritabile genus apam. Still Burnens was but an uncultivated peasant when he became Huber's hired Servant, and possessed none of those acquired accomplishments which serve to Sharpen the intellectual faculties, and fit the mind for Observing and discriminating with correctness.

It cannot reasonably excite our wonder, therefore, that on the first appearance of Huber's observations, the literary, or rather the scientific world, was some what startled, not only at the novelty of his discoveries, but also at the instrumentality by which they had been effected. Huber, however, had taken great pains in cultivating the naturally acute mind of the young man, in directing his researches, and accus toming him to rigorous accuracy in his observations. And the fact that a glimmering of many of the dis coveries reported by the assistant to his master had presented themselves to the minds of Linnaeus, Beau mur, and other preceding observers, Should so far satisfy us that they were not brought forward merely to support a preconceived theory, (of which, it is probable, Burnens had no idea, ) nor owed their origin' to a vivid and exuberant imagination. At a future period Huber was deprived of the aid of this valuable coadjutor; but the loss was more than compensated, and accuracy in experiment and observation, if pos sible, still more unquestionably secured, by the assis tance and co-operation of his son, -p. Huber, who has given so much delight to the lovers of natural history by his Researches concerning the habits of Ants.

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