106 ENEMIES. 



outside they scratch at the entrance, which causes 

 the bees to run out, when they are devoured. If 

 they can reach it, they will also devour the comb con- 

 taining the brood and honey also. To prevent their 

 ravages, elevate the hives two or three feet from the 

 ground, so that they cannot reach them. A good 

 dog, or the use of strychnine, will keep them away 

 or give them their quietus. 



KATS. 



Eats will also devour large quantities of honey, 

 and destroy the comb, whenever they can gain access 

 to it. I am not aware that they eat bees. 



MICE. 



The white-bellied wood mouse is a formidable ene- 

 my. Entering the hive during cold weather, they 

 mutilate the combs and build their nests, and not 

 only create a noisome stench, but eat both bees and 

 honey. 



It might reasonably be supposed that the bees 

 would sting them. This I suspect seldom happens, 

 as they only take up their abode within the hive dur- 

 ing the continuance of cool weather, and then are 

 only in motion during the night. 



They should be excluded from the hive by a 

 timely contraction of the entrance. When they are 

 found to have made a lodgment, the hive should be 



