HISTORY OF THE HIVE. 49 



joins the throng, looking quite the queen, the ac- 

 knowledged ruler amongst her many faithful subjects. 

 And now, as we watch the crowd in the air, we notice 

 that many of them seem to be gathering round, and 

 settling on one of the boughs of a neighbouring tree. 

 It evidently is so; and then others follow to the same 

 place, and more and more collect, clinging to one 

 another, until at last they hang down from the bough 

 in a bunch larger than a man's head, and even bend 

 down the bough with their weight. 



' Round the fine twig, like cluster'd grapes, they close 

 In thickening wreaths, and court a short repose, 

 While the keen scouts with curious eye explore 

 The rifted roof, or widely gaping floor 

 Of some time-shatter'd pile or hollow'd oak, 

 Proud in decay, or cavern of the rock.' 



Evans. 



And now, as you look at this swarm, you would 

 doubtless like to know how many bees there are in it. 

 How many do you suppose .' Well, if we were to 

 weigh the whole lot we could almost tell the number ; 

 for 30,000 bees, generally speaking; weigh rather more 

 than 6 lbs. (6 lbs. 5 oz.), and it is possible there may 

 be this number in the swarm we are looking at ; 

 but, if so, it is a very large one. An average swarm 

 contains about 15,000 or 20,000 workers, besides 

 several hundred drones, and, of course, the one queen. 

 I am speaking, however, now of what is called a first 

 swarm, for it is rather different in a second, or what is 

 usually termed a ' cast.' 



But we must not stand watching the swarm too 

 long, for, unless we take measures to secure the bees, 



E 



