ROBBINO. 311 



from the disposition and the ability to engage in useful la- 

 bors. They are like nations that are impoverished by mu- 

 tual assaults on each other : or in which the apprehension 

 of war, exerts a most blighting influence upon every branch 

 of peaceful industry. 



I place very great reliance on the movable blocks which 

 guard the entrance to my hive, to assist colonies in defend- 

 ing themselves against robbing bees, as well as the prowl- 

 ing bee-moth. These blocks are triangular in shape, and 

 enable the Apiarian to enlarge or contract the entrance to 

 the hive, at pleasure. In the Spring, the entrance is kept 

 open only about two inches, and if the colony is feeble, not 

 more than half an inch. If there is any sign of robbers 

 being about, the small colonies have their entrances closed, 

 so that only a single bee can go in and out at once. As the 

 bottom-board slants forwards, the entrance is on an inclined 

 plane, and the bees which defend it, have a very great ad- 

 vantage over those which attack ihem ; the same in short, 

 that the inhabitants of a beseiged fortress would have in de- 

 fending a pass- way similarly constructed. As only one bee 

 can enter at a time, he is sure to be overhauled, if he at- 

 tempts ever so slyly to slip in : his credentials are roughly 

 demanded, and as he can produce none, he is at once de- 

 livered over to the executioners. If an attempt is made to 

 gain admission by force, then as soon as a bee gets in, he 

 finds hundreds, if not thousands, standing in battle array, 

 and he meets with a reception altogether too warm for his 

 comfort. I have sometimes slopped robbing, even after it 

 had proceeded so far that the assaulted bees had ceased to 

 offer any successful resistence, by pulling my blocks before 

 the entrance, and permitting only a single bee to enter at 

 once : the dispirited colony have at once recovered heart, 

 and have battled so stoutly and successfully, as to beat off 

 their assailants. 



