SWARMING. 173 



Swarming 1 . 



In the spring of the year, when the sun gets a 

 little warm, the queen bee lays a considerable 

 number of eggs, which in due time add consider- 

 ably to the colony. The hive in consequence 

 gets overcrowded and overheated. The bees 

 then seem to know that, in order to continue the 

 race of bees and for the benefit of the colony, 

 some of them must seek an abode elsewhere. 

 After certain preparations the queen bee and a 

 number of other bees fly out of the door of the 

 hive, and with wonderful rapidity rise in the 

 air and hover for some time as if awaiting 

 stragglers. At last, having selected a rallying 

 point, generally a tree, or some bush, the leaders 

 alight and are at once joined by the main body, 

 till the whole number is collected in one mass of 

 hanging, buzzing bees. 



The swarm having rested for some time at 

 their first resting-place., and having collected the 

 whole of their number, soar again into the air 

 and shape their course with great speed to the 

 spot selected by their leaders for their future 

 home. In this spot, very often the hollow of a 

 tree or some equally protected spot they make 

 their combs, gather honey and rear broods, and 

 go through the same round as the colony from 

 whence they came. 



