BOOK IX. VII. 6-vni. 4 



avoid the pest which lies in wait for them by flying 

 out by another passage. 



VIII. We have now said enough about the choice Onthepur- 

 of feeding-grounds, dwelling-places and their sites, and^he ''^^ 

 These having been provided, the next things that taking of 



^ n \. Til . swarms. 



we require are swarms or bees. Ihese come to us 

 either by purchase or without being paid for. Those 

 which we are going to buy we shall test with particu- 

 lar care by means of the points already mentioned, and 

 we must consider how numerous they are before we 

 purchase them, by opening the hives ; or if there are 2 

 no facilities for inspecting them, we shall at any rate 

 take note of what we are allowed to see, namely, 

 whether a goodly number of bees are standing in the 

 entrance-porch and whether a loud noise is to be 

 heard of bees buzzing inside. Also if it so happens 

 that they are all silent and at peace within their 

 dwelling-place, we shall be able to estimate their 

 great or small number from the sudden noise on the 

 part of the bees as a result of our applying our lips to 

 the hole by which they enter and blowing into it. 



But we must be particularly careful that the 3 

 swarms are brought from the neighbourhood rather 

 than from distant regions, since they are usually 

 irritated by a change of climate. But if this is 

 impossible and we are obliged to convey them over 

 long distances, we shall be careful that they are not 

 disturbed by the roughness of the road, and they will 

 be best carried on the shoulders and at night ; for 

 they must be given rest in the day-time, and liquids 

 which they like must be poured into the hives, so that 

 they may be fed while remaining shut up. Then 4 

 when they have arrived at their destination, if day- 

 light has come on, the hive must be neither opened 



451 



