AN ORDERLY COMMUNITY 5 
hive to detect and ward off danger. In some manner these 
guards are able to recognize every member of the very numerous 
family. If a strange bee, a robber perchance, should happen to 
alight at the entrance of the hive, it is at once set upon and 
driven away or killed. Let a man or an animal pass in front 
of the hive, and the chances are that the sentinels will take 
notice, and invite the trespasser to move on. The bee-keeper, 
wishing to open the hive, approaches quietly from the rear, and 
blows a little smoke into the entrance. As a result the sentinels 
are at once thrown off guard. The cover is then carefully lifted 
and more smoke blown over the frames. This causes a suspen- 
sion of work in all parts of the hive, and general confusion 
results. The bees at once seek the open cells, and fill their honey 
sacs with honey, as though they believed the house to be on fire 
and wished to save as much of their hard-earned store as possible. 
A careful operator will be able to create such a condition of 
hopeless confusion within the hive, that the bees lose all 
thought of defence, and he can handle them at will without the 
slightest resistance. If the frames are at once removed, the 
bees may be dumped into a pan, picked up by handfuls, or dis- 
posed of in any manner, if only one be careful not to pinch or 
erush any of them. Experienced bee-keepers frequently give 
demonstrations before the gaping public in a manner to excite 
a wondering interest on the part of the uninitiated, and to lead 
to all sorts of absurd statements. Some go so far as to attempt 
to give the impression that they have unusual influence over the 
insects, calling themselves bee-wizards or other silly names. If 
the operator is skillful in controlling the bees, he can perform 
feats that seem very wonderful to those whose only information 
concerning them is that they sting and make honey. Blowing 
live bees from the mouth, pouring panfuls over the head, and 
similar “ stunts ”’ are not uncommon at these demonstrations. 
There are some gentle strains of Italians that have become 
so accustomed to being handled that they can be safely handled 
during a honey flow without smoke. The novice should be 
