FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 223 



ordinary circumstances ; but if you ever have such piles, 

 and are so unfortunate as to get the robbers once started 

 at them, you "better watch out." Even if there should be 

 a dearth for some time, robbers are not likely to attack a 

 pile ; for they have probably got into the habit of think- 

 ing that such a pile is not to be meddled with, but just 

 you do something to call particular attention to the pile, 



Fig- 74. — Wheeling Load of Supers. 



such as letting a comb of honey stand by it exposed, and 

 there are so many exposed places to defend that the rob- 

 bers are likely to have things their own way. 



A BAD CASE OF ROBBING. 



One time George W. York was here when bees were 

 not busily at work in the fields, and I opened up a pile of 

 four stories, for what purpose I do not now remember ; 

 very likely I was trying to show ofif in some way. At 

 any rate I showed him a fine case of robbing, for the rob- 

 bers pounced down upon every exposed point, and before 

 I had noticed what was going on they were having a gay 



