FORMATION OF COLONIES. 269 



The bees, on finding themselves queenless, and not 

 content with one chance, almost invariably commence 

 the construction of one or more additional cells, and 

 rearing of young in them, and continue to nourish 

 and protect them until the emerging of the supplied 

 embryo queen ; and in case the latter fails, then the 

 new-built cell may be relied on to produce a queen. 



Care should be taken in handling queen cells not 

 to jar or dent them ; also, not to expose them to cold, 

 and they should be so arranged as not to come in 

 contact with the adjoining comb. 



Let the bees remain clustered on the combs, but 

 if they are in the way of inserting the queen cell, 

 brush them gently with a quill out of the way. 

 Watch carefully for the queen, and if found, return 

 her to the hive whence she was taken. 



In arranging the combs in the new hive, the fol- 

 lowing order should be observed : first place No. 3 

 at one side of the hive, No. 4 containing the queen 

 cell next to No. 3, No. 2 next to No. 4, and add an 

 empty frame. There being three combs taken out 

 of the parent hive, (plate xxxix, fig. 66) there 

 should also be one-third of the bees taken to com- 

 pose the colony. 



After having arranged the combs and divided the 

 bees as above, the colony is to be covered with a cloth, 

 as represented in plate XL, fig. 67. The hive should 

 then be closed, and tfye apertures shut, to prevent the 

 escape of the bees. The ventilators are then opened 

 and the hive set in a cool and shaded place till even- 



