SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO SWARMING. 131 



of an old building or tree. DR. WARDER, MR. 

 BUTLER, MR. KNIGHT, DR. EVANS, M. DUCHET, 

 and other writers think that the bees about to 

 swarm regularly send out scouts, to explore an 

 eligible situation for their future residence ; 

 though Dr. Evans admits that this disposition to 

 resume wild habits, like many of the instinctive 

 faculties of the animal creation, has its intensity 

 weakened by domestication,. Dr. Warder asserts 

 that the bees always send out providers, to select 

 a suitable residence for them, several days before 

 swarming, and considers that their clustering 

 upon a bough, &c. soon after they issue forth, 

 proceeds from their desire to be all congregated 

 together prior to the last flight : this is likewise 

 the opinion of Mr. Knight. If the place selected 

 be a deserted hive, it is first cleared by the bees 

 of all heterogeneous matters, the old combs alone 

 being allowed to remain. An observance of this 

 conduct probably led COLUMELLA to recommend 

 the placing of empty hives, during the swarming 

 season, in appropriate situations near an apiary. 

 KEYS gives a similar recommendation. REAUMUR 

 on the other hand ridicules the idea of " spies 

 and quartermasters," as ingenious fable. What 

 I have stated in Chapter xvii. p. 148. confirms 

 Reaumur's opinion : he is also supported in it by 

 BUFFON, BONNET, and HUBER : the former says, 



