Oliver, in his account of Cherry-Burton (_History of Beverley_, p.
499.), speaks thus on the superstitious practice of informing bees, and
putting them in mourning on the occasion of a death in the family:
"The inhabitants entertain a superstitious belief, that when the
head of a family dies, it is necessary to clothe the bees in
mourning on the funeral day to ensure the future prosperity of the
hive."
He then refers to an instance, and says:
"A scarf of black crape was formally applied to each bee-hive; and
an offering of pounded funeral biscuit, soaked in wine, was placed
at its entrance."
In a note, he accounts for the ceremony's origin by a quotation from
Porph. _De Ant. Nymp._, p. 261., in which honey is spoken of as being
"anciently a symbol of death." For other notices of superstitions in
reference to bees, see Hone's _Mysteries_, pp. 220. 222. 283.