ENEMIES OF BEES. 207 



exterminated in the night, by brimstone, gun~ 

 powder, or boiling water. 



The wooden guards invented by Espinasse, or 

 the tin guards of Huish, will be very useful in 

 case of a formidable attack, and had better be 

 made use of if an assault be apprehended from 

 these predatory insects. 



Powder and shot are the only protectors from 

 the visits of birds. 



The exclusion of poultry must be left to the 

 ingenuity of the apiarian. 



In an ungenial autumn, it is not uncommon for 

 bees that are ill-managed and not properly fed, to 

 plunder the hoards of their own species, and bees 

 that have thus acquired predatory habits, become 

 great annoyers of industrious and well fed co- 

 lonies ; they are known by the name of corsair 

 bees. On these occasions spies are said to be 

 sent our to ascertain the respective strengths of 

 neighbouring colonies, and to select the weakest 

 for attack. They make similar attacks upon the 

 nests of humble-bees, as well as upon the bees 

 themselves ; in the former case they will carry off 

 almost the whole of the stores that have been 

 collected, unrepulsed by its proprietors ; and in 

 the latter case, says HUBER, " the humble-bee, 

 accustomed to such exactions, yields up its honey, 

 and resumes its flight." In both cases it renews 

 its labour in the fields, and repairs with its surplus 



