AN ORDERLY COMMUNITY 5 



hive to detect and ward off danger. In some manner these 

 guards are able to recognize every member of the very numerous 

 family. If a strange bee, a robber perchance, should happen to 

 alight at the entrance of the hive, it is at once set upon and 

 driven away or killed. Let a man or an animal pass in front 

 of the hive, and the chances are that the sentinels will take 

 notice, and invite the trespasser to move on. The bee-keeper, 

 wishing to open the hive, approaches quietly from the rear, and 

 blows a little smoke into the entrance. As a result the sentinels 

 are at once thrown oft" guard. The cover is then carefully lifted 

 and more smoke blown over the frames. This causes a suspen- 

 sion of work in all parts of the hive, and general confusion 

 results. The bees at once seek the open cells, and fill their honey 

 sacs with honey, as though they believed the house to be on fire 

 and wished to save as much of their hard-earned store as possible. 



A careful operator will be able to create such a condition of 

 hopeless confusion within the hive, that the bees lose all 

 thought of defence, and he can handle them at will without the 

 slightest resistance. If the frames are at once removed, the 

 bees may be dumped into a pan, picked up by handfuls, or dis- 

 posed of in any manner, if only one be careful not to pinch or 

 crush any of them. Experienced bee-keepers frequently give 

 demonstrations before the gaping public in a manner to excite 

 a wondering interest on the part of the uninitiated, and to lead 

 to all sorts of absurd statements. Some go so far as to attempt 

 to give the impression 'that they have unusual influence over the 

 insects, calling themselves bee-wizards or other silly names. If 

 the operator is skillful in controlling the bees, he can perform 

 feats that seem very wonderful to those whose only information 

 concerning them is that they sting and make honey. Blowing 

 live bees from the mouth, pouring panfuls over the head, and 

 similar " stunts " are not uncommon at these demonstrations. 



There are some gentle strains of Italians that have become 

 so accustomed to being handled that they can be safely handled 

 during a honey flow without smoke. The novice should be 



