230 THE BEE NATION. 



with popular approval, as for instance if the interior be dirty 

 or ill-smelling, or is too large or too small for the needs of 

 the swarm, the bees leave it again to search for some other 

 and often far distant place. If an empty hive is in the 

 neighborhood which meets with the approval of the scouts, 

 the swarm takes possession thereof. 



M. de Fraviere had the opportunity of observing the 

 manner in which such an examination is carried on, and 

 with what prudence and accuracy. He placed an empty 

 beehive, made in a new style, in front of his house so that 

 he could exactly watch from his own window what went on 

 inside and out without disturbance to himself or to the bees. 

 A single bee came and examined the building, flying all 

 round it and touching it. It then let itself down on the 

 board, and walked carefully and thoroughly over the 

 interior, touching it continually with its antennae so as to 

 subject it on all sides to a thorough investigation. The result 

 of its examination must have been satisfactory, for after it 

 had gone away it returned accompanied by a crowd of some 

 fifty friends which now together went through the same 

 process as their guide. This new trial must also have had 

 a good result, for soon a whole swarm came, evidently from 

 a distant spot, and took possession. Still more remarkable 

 is the behavior of the scouts when they take possession of a 

 satisfactory hive or box for an imminent or approaching 

 swarm. Although it is not yet inhabited they regard it as 

 their property, watch it and guard it against stranger bees 

 or other assailants, and busy themselves earnestly in the 

 most careful cleansing of it, so far as this cleansing was 

 impossible to the setter-up of the hive. Such a taking 

 possession sometimes occurs eight days before the entrance 

 of the swarm. 



The swarming, which is so important for the maintenance 

 and propagation of the race, can be very simply prevented 

 by artificially widening and enlarging the hive. The nation 

 thus has room enough to spread and to make new combs, 

 and no longer experiences the need of sending out swarms. 

 If it were instinct which impelled bees to swarm such a 

 proceeding would be incredible. Bee-masters distinguish 

 between artificial and natural swarming ; the first is brought 

 about by taking a number of bees forcibly from thickly 

 populated hives, after they have been stupefied by smoke, and 



