56 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



ARE BEES 7AB-SIGHTED? 



Bees seems to no- 

 tice changes made in 

 the position of their 

 hive less, when the 

 change is made in 

 the direction of the 

 line of flight in which 

 they approach the 

 hive, than they do 

 when the change is 

 made so that they 

 have to turn aside 

 from their accustomed 

 line of flight. Also 

 each bee has its ac- 

 customed alio'htin"' No. 2. a Swarm Controlling Arrangement. 



point, and direction of flight from and to the hive, so that a change 

 made in a portion of the entrance, if the entrance is 'a large one, will 

 confuse a part of the bees, while others are not affected by it. 



How much of the confusion of bees, caused by changes in their 

 hive, or its entrance, is caused by their eyesight, I have not been 

 able to determine ; but it seems to me to have something to do with 

 it, and I have wondered whether bees can see plainly at a long 

 distance, and not plainly at other shorter distances. There appears 

 to be a point near the hive, as they approach it, in which they do 

 not see well at all. 



Why is it that the guards at the entrance apparently pay so 

 little attention to other bees, flies, ants, etc., by sight, but usually 

 bump up against them before they seem to know what they are? 



It is a safe rule to make as few changes as possible when the 

 bees are busv at work. 



HIVE MA1TIFUI.ATION FOB SWABM CONTBOI.. 



I have been much interested in hive manipulation for the pur- 

 pose of swarm control. 



It is now nearly ten years that I have been experimenting in 

 that line, and the first American Bee Journal for 1904, and the June, 

 1907, Bee Keeper's Review, contain articles giving some of my 

 experience. 



I have made changes nearly every year in the details of my 

 method, and the fixtures described in this article dift"er from others 

 used. I'revious to the season of 1903 I made a special bottom board 

 to L'C used for the ])urpose of swarm control, which could be used 

 throughcut the year for all purposes for which a bottom board is 



