On Bees. 109 



In the former instances, we had accidentally replaced 

 the emptied box on the top of the hive, contrary to the 

 directions of the Encyclopasdia, which require it placed 

 at the bottom, and the remaining boxes taken successive- 

 ly from, the top. In this instance, following the instructions 

 of the Encyclopaedia, we ordered the hive to be gently 

 raised from the bench, intending to place the emptied 

 box beneath it. This was accordingly done, but to our 

 surprize, the whole contents were left on the bench, and 

 the bees flew away in every direction. We cleared the 

 bench, and re-instated the empty hive in its former con- 

 dition, replacing the empty box on the top, with but 

 faint hopes, however, that the bees would return to it 

 after being thus disturbed and pillaged. But, contrary 

 to our fears^ they soon began to collect on the bench, 

 and had the next morning by sun rise, all ascended into 

 the hive, where they were busily at work. A few days 

 after, this hive was stolen, but the thief finding no honey 

 in it threw it down. In this state we found it the next 

 morning, and the poor bees in a cluster on the grass 

 close by it. We brought it home and replaced it on 

 the bench, we then spread a white cloth on the ground 

 by the bees, with a piece of honey on it, the bees soon 

 crawled on the cloth, which we took up by its four cor- 

 ners, carried home, and spread on the bench where the 

 hive stood, mto which they returned and resumed their 

 labours. 



During the present year we have invariably pursued 

 the same course, always replacing the empty box on the 

 top of the hive, with the like success. 



The directions, given in the Encyclopedia, must 

 have arisen for the want of an accurate observation of 



