V 
BINDING AND TAKING: NESTS 
It was one of the pleasures of my boyhood, and it 
is no less enjoyable now, to find nests of humble- 
bees, especially of the rarer species, and transfer 
them to suitable places in the garden where their 
working can be watched. The operation of digging 
out the nest is full of excitement and surprises, and 
the humble-bees settle down quickly and happily in 
their new quarters, where, rid of parasites, they often 
succeed better than if they had been left alone. 
A nest may be discovered accidentally, the bees 
having been noticed passing in and out; or we may 
specially go out to search for the nests, and this in 
itself is good sport. June and July are the best 
months in which to look for humble-bees’ nests; but 
a few in an early stage may sometimes be found at 
the end of May, or we may take them in August 
after they have reached the height of their pro- 
sperity, although this is not so satisfactory. 
It is important to choose a day on which there is 
little or no wind. The most promising places to 
search over are grassy banks and the borders of 
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