THE BEE NATION. 229 



neath, owing to the down-draught of the hot vapor, become 

 bathed in sweat. Their wings become so damp that they are 

 not in a condition to fly and cannot get far beyond the board. 



When the restlessness and tumult have reached their 

 height, the flight at last begins providing that the weather 

 is clear and sunny and that the scouts have brought good 

 reports after some of the bees, to omit no prudent pre- 

 caution, have put in their honey-bags provisions enough for 

 three or four days. The swarm darts up in the air with the 

 swiftness of an arrow, but soon comes again to rest, for before 

 the regular flight a kind of gathering and trial of strength 

 takes place. A necessary condition is of course the presence 

 of the queen. If this is wanting the swarm returns to the 

 hive ; otherwise the yet undecided bees gather more and 

 more round the swarm, which, as a rule, settles and hangs 

 round a bough of some tree standing near the mother hive. 

 If two or more queens are present, as is often the case in 

 vigorously swarming hives, the swarm divides, or if the 

 swarm has settled the queens fight until only one remains. 



The moment of the earlier gathering of the bees is the 

 point which the bee-master must not miss if he wants to 

 catch the young swarm and put it into a previously prepared 

 hive this only being possible also if the queen is present 

 and is caught. If he does not succeed, the whole swarm, 

 so soon as the gathering is complete, is off and away, to 

 settle down on some place which seems to it suitable. As, 

 however, several days are often lost over this gathering to- 

 gether, and as after arriving at their new home some time 

 must elapse before they can bring in fresh food, it is evident 

 how necessary and well-considered is the already mentioned 

 carrying with them of provisions by the swarming bees. 

 The queen is on the journey the object of the tenderest care, 

 and some observers assure us that she is supported and 

 carried by strong working bees. This is at least true as 

 regards the older queens with somewhat worn out-wings, 

 while the younger ones fly vigorously. Secondary swarms 

 with young queens send out no scouts, as a rule, but fly at 

 random through the air. They clearly lack the experience 

 and prudence of the older bees. 



The dwelling which the bee-catcher offers to his swarm is 

 not accepted by it altogether carelessly and without further 

 trouble, but is first carefully examined. If it does not meet 



Q 



