BOOK IX. XI. 5-xii. 4 



which hold the bees of common birth, filled with a 

 kind of dirt of a red colour from which the winged 

 king-bee is immediately formed. 



XII. Care must also be taken of the home-bred How to 

 swarm, if by chance, taking a dislike to their paternal swarm^and 

 abode, they break forth at the time already mentioned prevent it3 

 and announce their intention of taking a more distant 

 flight. This the swarm intimates when the bees so 

 completely avoid the entrance to the hive that not 

 a single one flies back again into it, but immediately 

 rises high into the sky. The young bees who are 2 

 escaping should be frightened by the rattling of brass 

 or potsherds, which are usually to be found lying 

 about ; and when in their alarm they have returned 

 to the maternal hive and hang in a mass at the 

 entrance to it or betake themselves immediately to 

 the nearest foliage, the keeper should immediately 

 besmear the inside of a new receptacle prepared for 

 the purpose with the herbs mentioned above, and 

 then, after sprinkling it with drops of honey, bring it 

 near and gather the mass of bees together with his 

 hands or with a scoop ; and, after taking every 3 

 proper precaution, he should let the hive, after it 

 has been carefully adjusted and besmeared inside, 

 remain in the same place until evening begins to fall. 

 Then at first twilight he should remove it and replace 

 it in a row with the other hives. But you should also 4 

 have empty hives placed in the apiary ; for there are 

 some swarms which, as soon as they have come forth, 

 immediately seek a home for themselves nearby 

 and occupy one which they find empty. You now have 

 a practically complete account of the measures to be 

 taken for acquiring bees and keeping them in your 

 possession. 



471 



