^•3 liiiiis 



time that a tree, after having- been examined and apparently 

 approved, was deserted in favour of a hive ; a circumstance 

 he attributes to long- hereditary habits of domestication. 

 That they do prefer such homes appears tolerably clear, for 

 they will flock to them under unpromising* circumstances, 

 such, for instance, as the hive in question being- strewed over 

 with dead bees. But probably the bees know perfectly well 

 how to estimate the value of such an alarming-looking- spec- 

 tacle ; and can accurately determine whether it was owing" 

 to any peculiar defects in the hive, or simply to some ona 

 or other of those ills to which bees are heir. Mr. Grant, 

 the author of some very interesting papers on bees in the 

 Garde7ier''s Clironicle, witnessed their operations in a case 

 of this kind. " In a quarter of an hour from their taking- 

 possession, they were observed busily employing- bringing- 

 out the dead bees, small fragments of honey-comb, dead 

 insects, and other dirt ; and by the middle of the following 

 day a little conical heap of their cleansings was to be seen 

 on the ground in front of the hive ; before night well loaded 

 labourers were seen entering to repair the dilapidations, and 

 refurnish the empty cells." 



In the delicate and rather hazardous operation of securing 

 a swarm, it will add considerably to the ease and carefulness 

 of the operator if he is well defended from the bees. There 

 are some persons who may do anything* with bees, such as 

 the celebrated Wildman, who was accustomed to amuse him- 

 self by making' a swarm of bees settle on his chin like a 

 beard, or hang from his hand, together with many other 

 feats of the like nature, but there are many whom the bees 

 detest, and who on that account cannot venture to meddle 

 with a hive. Even the illness of a formerly loved master 

 has been known to destroy the allegiance of his bees, who 

 would not suffer him to handle them until he had perfectly 

 recovered. A bee-dress is therefore requisite. This consists 

 principally of a large piece of gauze or net, tied round a wide- 

 brimmed hat, and fastened securely round the shoulders. 

 The hands should be defended with woollen gloves, whose 

 thickness prevents the sting from reaching the skin, while 

 the bee can easily withdraw its weapon after the attack. 

 The gloves should be drawn over the buttoned cuffs of the 

 ooat. Thus defended the bee-owner may laugh at the 



