THE HONEY-BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED. 27 



gently sprinkled with water sweetened with sugar, they 

 will help themselves with great eagerness, and in a few 

 moments will be perfectly under control. The truth is, 

 that bees thus managed are always glad to see visitors, 

 for they expect at every call to receive an acceptable 

 peace-offering. The greatest objection to the use of 

 sweetened water, is the greediness of bees from other hives, 

 who when there is any scarcity of honey in the fields, will 

 often surround the Apiarian as soon as he presents himself 

 with his watering-pot, and attempt to force their way 

 into any hive he may open, to steal if possible a poition 

 of its treasures. 



A third peculiarity in the nature of bees gives an almost 

 unlimited control over them, and may be expressed as 

 folio W T S : 



Bees when frightened immediately begin to fill them- 

 selves with honey from their combs. 



If the Apiarian only succeeds in frightening his little 

 subjects, he can make them, as peaceable as though they 

 were incapable of stinging. By the use of a little smoke 

 from decayed wood,* the largest and most fiery colony 

 may at once be brought into complete subjection. As 

 soon as the smoke is blown among them, they retreat from 

 before it, raising a subdued or terrified note ; and seeming 

 to imagine that their honey is to be taken from them, they 

 cram their honey-bags to their utmost capacity. They 

 act either as if aware that only what they can lodge in 

 this inside pocket is safe, or as if expecting to be driven 

 away from their stores, they are determined to start with 

 a full supply of provisions for the way. The same result 

 may be obtained by shutting them up in their hive and 



* Such wood is often called spunk, or touch- wood ; It burns without any flame 

 until consumed ; and its smoke may easily be directed upon the bees, by the 

 breath of the Apiarian. 



