244 THE BEE KEEPEr'8 MANUAL. 



where it can find some snug place in which to ensconce 

 itself, is caught by the nape of the neck, and very unceremo- 

 niously served with an instant writ of ejection from the hive. 

 If a hive is thoroughly made, of sound materials, and has no 

 cracks or crevices under which the worm can retreat, it is 

 obliged to leave the interior in search of such a place, a,nd 

 it runs a most dangerous gantlet, as it passes, for this pur- 

 pose, through the ranks of its enraged foes. Even in the 

 worm state, however, its motions are exceedingly quick ; it 

 can crawl backwards or forwards, and as well one way as 

 another : it can twist round on itself, curl up almost into a 

 knot, and flatten itself out like a pancake ! in short, it is full 

 of stratagems and cunning devices. If obliged to leave the 

 hive, it gets under any board or concealed crack, spins its 

 cocoon, and patiently awaits its transformation. In most of 

 the common hives, it is under no necessity of leaving its 

 birth place for this purpose. It is almost certain to find a 

 crack or flaw into which it can creep, or a small space be- 

 tween the bottom-board and the edges of the hive which 

 rest upon it. A very small crevice will answer all its pur- 

 poses. It enters, by flattening itself out almost as much as 

 though it had been passed under a roller, and as soon as it 

 is safe from the bees, it speedily begins to give its cramped 

 tenement, the requisite proportions. It is utterly amazing 

 how an insect apparently so feeble, can do this ; but it will 

 often gnaw for itself a cavity, even in solid wood, and thus 

 enlarge its retreat, until it has ample roam for making its co- 

 coon ! The time when it will break forth into a winged in- 

 sect, depends entirely upon the degree of heat to which it is 

 exposed. I have bad them spin their cocoons and hatch in 

 a temperature of about 70°, in ten or eleven days, and I 

 have known them to spin so late in the Fall, that they re- 

 mained all Winter, undeveloped, and did not emerge until 

 the warm weather of the ensuing Spring ! 



