204? MANAGEMENT IN SWARMING. 



shrink at the description of some of the dangerous op- 

 erations ventured on with such irritable subjects, and 

 will be disposed on every occasion of this kind to 

 ensconce himself in impenetrable defensive armour. 

 In forming artificial swarms, in depriving the bees 

 of their hard-earned stores, or interfering in any way 

 with the brood, he will do well to protect himself by 

 such means. But in regard to natural swarms, he 

 need be under no apprehension, and this panoply is 

 then quite unnecessary. Every person accustomed 

 to work amongst bees, knows how safely he may 

 go into the midst of a newly departed swarm, not 

 one bee of which will molest him, unless he acci- 

 dentally crush or injure it during his operations. 

 They are so intent on the great object of their emi- 

 gration, the acquisition of a new abode, and so sensi- 

 tively anxious about the safety of their mother and 

 Queen, that what on ordinary occasions would draw 

 forth many a vengeful weapon, now passes utterly 

 unheeded by them ; and the cultivator may, in the 

 event of their clustering in an inconvenient spot 

 for being hived, lift them in handfuls like so much 

 grain, without in the least suffering for his boldness. 

 The following instances, in proof of this, are very 

 interesting, and worthy of being repeatedly brought 

 forward, not only as illustrating a remarkable feature 

 in the history of the Bee, but as being well calculated 

 to inspire confidence in those who are required to 

 work amongst these sensitive creatures at the swarm- 

 ing season. The first instance is from M. Lombard : 

 " A young girl of my acquaintance was greatly 



