260 Absconding Swarms. 
and destroying their queen-cells, or, if desired, using them 
for forming new nuclei. 
CAPTURING ABSCONDING SWARMS. 
Sometimes swarms break cluster and take wing for their 
prospective home, before the bee-keeper has hived them. 
Throwing dirt among them will sometimes cause them to 
light again. Throwing water among them in form of a 
fine spray (Fig. 98) will almost always do this. For such 
purpose some hand pump is very desirable. Whitman’s 
fountain pump is one of the most convenient. Another 
important use for such a pump in the apiary is this: If a 
swarm when clustered be sprinkled occasionally it will 
remain clustered indefinitely. It costs about $7.00. While 
most customs have a reasonable basis, the common one of 
horns and bells and beating of pans to stop a swarm is a 
notable exception. It does not the least good. 
