NUMBERS IN A SWARM. 261 



cottager has retained the first swarm to himself, 

 sending the second swarm to the ignorant pur- 

 chaser ; and the question now presents itself, how 

 is this fraud to be discovered ? the solution is im- 

 mediately at hand. In the formation of the combs, 

 there is one invariable principle peculiar to first 

 and second swarms, which is, that a first swarm 

 always commences the erection of their combs in 

 the middle of the hive ; a second swarm always 

 begin their combs at the side. Let, therefore, the 

 purchaser, previously to the removal of the swarm, 

 gently lift up the hive, and so arrive at the position 

 of the combs, if the foundation commences at the 

 side, pay the price of a second swarm, and no more ; 

 the better plan would be to reject it altogether, and 

 leave the cottager to congratulate himself on the 

 successful issue of his intended fraud. The weight 

 and size of a swarm are good criteria by which to 

 judge whether it be a first or second, but they can- 

 not always be depended on, and it is only the pro- 

 fessed Apiarian who is able to arrive at a just and 

 definite conclusion." 



It has been observed, by some Apiarians, that a 

 good swarm should consist of between forty and fifty 

 thousand; by others, perhaps with more truth, of 

 between twelve and fifteen thousand. Such a swarm, 

 hived in May, will have bred many thousands, con- 

 sidering the number of eggs laid by the queen, be- 

 fore the end of June ; and during the whole season, 

 which extends nearly to Michaelmas, the number of 

 bees hatched will, with common success, amount to 

 upwards of five thousand. These, added to the ori- 

 ginal number of the swarm, will swell it to the 



