HYMENOPTERA. 



35* 



the hive. A few still hover about round the place where the swarm 

 was fixed. If the number is considerable, and if many have stopped 

 in this place, you must make them quit it by placing some offensive 

 herb, such as celandine, horehound, field camomile, &c., on it, or 

 project the smoke of a rag upon them, which will drive away the bees 

 and force them to look for the colony or to return to the mother-hive. 

 You may also project smoke, but in moderate quantities, on the bees 



Fig. 323. Bell-shaped hi\ 



Fig. 326. English hi\ 



grouped around and on the borders of the lodging which you have 

 just given them, and which they will not be long in entering."* 



A good swarm weighs from four to six pounds ; one pound con- 

 tains about four thousand bees. The second swarm weighs rarely 

 more than two pounds, and the third still less. You can also form 

 artificial swarms by drawing off the bees of one hive into another, an 

 operation which is easy with bell-shaped hives. A glance at Fig. 325,. 

 which represents the common hive of the north of France, that is to 

 say, the bell-shaped, will show how easy it is to effect that drawing off, 



* " Cours d' Apiculture," pp. 73, 74. 



