274 Moving Colonies. 
ing. We now hold the cage in the left hand with the 
thumb over the hole, to keep the bees in, and with the 
right hand pick up the queen and eight or ten worker bees 
—bright ones, neither very young nor old—by grasping 
the wings with thumb and index finger, and put them into 
the cage. Close the opening by pushing in the tin slide, 
nail on the wooden screen (Fig. 100), and our queen is 
ready to mail. In this work we can make good use of the 
comb stand (Fig. tor). 
We should send queens by mail. They go as safely as 
by express and it costs but a cent or two. Vo one should 
presume, on any account, to send a queen by mail, unless 
the queen cage is covered by this double screen and ts pro- 
vistoned as directed above, instead of with honey. If ship- 
pers neglect these precautions, so that the mails become 
daubed, or the mail agents stung, we shall again lose the 
privilege of sending queens by mail. 
TO MOVE COLONIES. 
Should we desire to purchase Italians or other colonies, 
the only requisites to safe transport are: A wire-cloth cover 
for ventilation, secure fastening of the frames so they can- 
not possibly move, and combs so old that they shall not 
break down and fall out. In spring, wire gauze over the 
entrance usually affords enough ventilation. If the col- 
ony is very large, and the weather very warm, the entire 
top of the hive should be open and covered with gauze, or 
the bees may smother. The entrance ought also to be cov- 
ered with gauze. Dr. C. C. Miller, in his valuable little 
book «A Year among the Bees,” offers a good suggestion. 
It is to double a narrow piece of wire gauze, a little longer 
than the entrance to the hive, and tack the cut edges to 
one side of a similar shaped piece of soft wood, so that 
it will project one-half inch below. By screwing or tack- 
ing this strip just above the entrance of a hive, we quickly 
shut the bees in. Several of these may be made in ad- 
vance. I find them very convenient. If combs are built 
from wired foundation they will not break down even if 
new. Bees thus shut up should never be left where the 
sun can shine on them. In the cars the frames should 
