502 ENEMIES OF BEES. 



further account, the mission of the moth is to gather up its 

 fragments, that nothing may be lost. 



From these remarks, the bee-keeper will see the means on 

 which he must rely, to protect his hives from the moth. 

 Knowing that strong colonies which have a fertile queen, can 

 take care of themselves in almost any kind of hive, he should 

 do all he can to keep them in this condition. They will thus 

 do more to defend themselves than if he devoted the whole 

 of his time to fighting the moth. Inexperienced bee-keepers, 

 who imagine that a colony is nearly ruined when they find a 

 few worms, should remember that almost eveiy colony 

 (especially black bees) however strong or healthy, has some 

 of these enemies lurking about its premises. 



It is hardly necessary, after the preceding remarks, to say 

 much upon the various contrivances to which some resorted 

 as a safeguard against the bee-moth. The idea that gauze- 

 wire doors, to be shut at dusk and opened again at morning, 

 can exclude the moth, will not weigh much with those who 

 have seen them on the wmg, in dull weather, long before the 

 bees have ceased their work. Even if they could be excluded 

 by such a contrivance, it would require, on the part of those 

 using it, a reg-ularity almost akin to that of the heavenly 

 bodies. 



An ingenious device was invented for dispensing wdth such 

 close supervision, by governing the entrances of all the hives 

 by a long lever-like hen-roost, so that they might be regu- 

 larly closed by the crowing and cackling tribe when they go 

 to rest at night, and opened again when they fly from their 

 perch to greet the merry morn. Alas! that so much skill 

 should have been all in vain! Some chickens are sleepy, and 

 wish to retire before the bees have completed their work, while 

 others, from ill-health or laziness, have no taste for early 

 rising, and sit moping on their roost, long after the cheerful 

 sun has purpled the glowing East. Even if this device could 

 entirely exclude the moth, it could not save a colony which 

 has lost its queen. The truth is, that such contrivances are 



