PREVENTIVES. 315 



the robbers from the actual population of the hive, as 

 they fly out with considerable regularity. This bears 

 so strong a resemblance to the playing or " fly-out " 

 of the young bees, that it is difficult to determine 

 their true character. 



The robbers may be known by their crawling to 

 the edge of the alighting board, or up the side of the 

 hive, before flying ; their sacks being full of honey, 

 gives them a larger appearance than that of playing 

 bees. When some progress has been made at carry- 

 ing away honey, there may be seen, at the entrance 

 and under the hive, cuttings of the comb. 



Robbers may also be known by a peculiar sharp 

 sound they make, when engaged in their depredations. 



PREVENTIVES. 



No hive having stores, and without a well organ- 

 ized colony to defend them, should be allowed to 

 stand where it is accessible to robbers. Neither 

 should honey or refuse combs be placed where bees 

 can fly to them promiscuously, unless supplied with 

 all they can remove for two or three days in succes- 

 sion ; for when they get a taste, they become excited 

 and attack weak and strong hives alike, and of course, 

 numbers are slain on both sides. 



As soon as pasturage becomes scarce, and symp- 

 toms of robbing are shown, let the entrance of each 

 hive be so contracted that the guards can defend it. 

 Care is required, however, to admit sufficient air, and 



