CHAPTER XXI. 



ROBBERY. 



PRIMARY CAUSE. 



THE primary cause of robbery may be fairly traced 

 to natural acquisitiveness ; which is, in the honey bee, 

 highly developed. Without any modifying traits of 

 character, it is not strange, therefore, that they some- 

 times seek to acquire that which does not belong to 

 them. Without that propensity, they would be of no 

 more use to man than any other of the myriads of 

 winged insects that are so common. Being possessed 

 of the bee, which has traits of character no less un- 

 changeable than wonderful, it remains for us to con- 

 trol and direct them in such a manner as to secure 

 the largest amount of honey for the money and labor 

 invested. 



SECONDARY CAUSE. 



The secondary cause, or that which leads to ma- 



. rauding, is a failure of pasturage ; for, while they 



can procure supplies from flowers sufficient to meet 



their wants, they are never found meddling with their 



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