ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 159 



explorers are rapidly reinforced, the ventilators suspend 

 their operations, and soon the air is filled with bees. If 

 they cannot find the queen, they return to their old stand, 

 and if no hive is there, will soon enter one of the adjoin- 

 big colonies. If their queen is restored to them soon 

 after they miss her, those running out of the hive will 

 make a half-circle, and return ; the joyful news is quickly 

 communicated to those on the wing, who forthwith alight 

 and enter the hive ; all appearance of agitated running 

 about on the outside of the hive, ceases, and ventilation, 

 with its joyful hum, is again resumed.* If the bees re- 

 main quiet in the new hive, for about fifteen minutes, the 

 queen is almost certainly with them. 



If the Apiarian, in making his artificial swarm, does not 

 see the queen, he must wait until the bees show, by their 

 conduct, whether she is with them or not. If they begin 

 to leave the hive, the entrance must be closed, to confine 

 them until the parent-stock can be drummed again, and 

 the queen,- if possible, secured. If she cannot be induced 

 to leave the parent-stock, and another cannot be had to 

 supply her place, the bees must be returned, and the 

 driving resumed at another time. A queen, however, 

 which does not go up the first time, is very apt to persist 

 in her refusal. 



In forcing a swarm, I have directed that it be done when 



* To witness these interesting proceedings, it is only necessary to catch the 

 queen, and keep her until she is missed by her colony. For greater security, I 

 usually confine her, when taken from the bees, in a small paper-funnel, with 

 twisted ends, from which she may be' easily taken. 



It is a mistake to suppose that a swarm will not enter a hive unless the queen 

 la with them. If some start for it, the others will speedily follow, all seeming to 

 take foi granted that the queen is somewhere among them. Even after they 

 begin to disperse in search of her, they may often be induced to jeturn, by pour- 

 ing out a fresh lot of bees, which, by entering the hive with fanning wings, cause 

 the others to believe that the queen is coming at last. 



Bees which miss their queen, under such circumstances, will accept of any on* 

 that may be offered them ; and may often be pacified with worker-comb. 



