ROBBING AND FIGUTINQ. 177 



robbers may be repelled by imparting to the hive some intensely 

 powerful and unaccustoraod odour. He effccis this the most readily 

 hy placing in it, in the evening, a. small portion of musk, and on 

 the following morninj; the bees, if they have a healthy queen, will 

 boldly meet their assailants. These are non-plussod by the unwonted 

 odour, and, if any of Ihem enter the hive and carry of5; some of 

 the coveted booty, on their return home, having a strange smell, 

 they will be killed by their own household. The robbing is thua 

 soot) brought to' a close." — S. Wagnek, 



It will often be found that a colony which offers little resist- 

 ance to robbers, and is overpowered, is either quccnlcss or 

 diseased; and that bees that are being robbed are more 

 than usually difficult to hai-dle. (179)< 



