IMPORTATION OF 1858. 41 



all were dead, having been destroyed by worms 

 which had been hatched on entering the warm 

 climate from eggs laid by the moth previous to start- 

 ing. The combs were entirely enveloped in webs 

 containing the worms, and were a perfect ruin. A 

 few worms were found in each of the hives contain- 

 ing living bees, but were soon exterminated. 



Some hives were found to contain so few bees that 

 they were united with other weak ones, till the num- 

 ber was reduced to fifty. 



In the latter part of January, 1858, 1 made a dis- 

 covery which has since been verified in a number of 

 instances. All the bees in 1;wo hives swarmed out, 

 leaving them entirely deserted. On examining, I 

 found young brood, the combs were clean and healthy, 

 and each hive contained some six or eight pounds of 

 honey. But it was nearly all sealed up, only a few 

 cells containing honey being open. 



The cause of their deserting was then a mystery. 

 as they had apparently all the requisites to do well. 



I finally suspected that, owing to their long con- 

 finement, and frequent passing over the sealed sur- 

 face of the comb, it had become glazed so that the 

 bees were not aware that they possessed so ample a 

 store.* 



*In the spring of 1859, and particularly the present one, 

 1860, I have known fhe bees (California-raised) from a number of 

 hives, to leave in like manner. The only difference was that 

 the hives were not over half full of combs. But these were 

 full of honey and tightly sealed, like those before mentioned. 



