158 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



its seductive stores ■will not only attract the bees who are intended to be 

 its legitimate occupants, but also wasps, hornets, and robber-bees of all 

 descriptions, so that the swarm will have to inaugurate their entrance 

 by a battle. 



2. Bees always will settle themselves as soon as possible after swarm- 

 ing, and if they have not already determined upon a new habitation, will 

 fix themselves in the first place that they think will suit them. There 

 are many instances known of bees having swarmed unexpectedly, and 

 after escaping from their former owners, having made their habitation in 

 a hollow tree in a wood, or in the roof of some deserted hovel. There 

 have been several instances of bees choosing to make their nests in the 

 roof or tower of a church, and an instance came very recently under the 

 writer's notice. For several years the congregation had been consider- 

 ably annoyed by the presence of bees during the service, but had made 

 no particular endeavors to rid themselves of the plague. One summer, 

 however, brought with it such an increase of bees that it was deemed 

 necessary to institute an inquiry; for the winged intruders came in such 

 numbers, and buzzed about so loudly, and frightened the juvenile portion 

 of the congregation to such a degree, that the service could not proceed 

 with any comfort. After some search, a hole was discovered in the 

 roof of the church, through which the bees were constantly passing. 

 This was accordingly stopped up, and the workmen retired, congratu- 

 lating themselves on getting rid of their winged enemies so easily. They 

 were, however, quite mistaken, for the bees descended in undiminished 

 numbers. The roof was again examined, and found to be in such bad 

 repair, that the colony of bees who had taken up their residence be- 

 tween the roof and the leads had found numerous openings, which 

 they had enlarged for their own purposes. How to eject tliis formidable 

 band was now the subject of deep consultation. Sulphur-smoke would 

 not answer, because it would soon pass out through the apertures in the 

 roof, and besides, there was a very prevalent alarm lest the churghs^ould 

 be set on fire. At last a veteran apiarian was sent for from OTe next 

 village. He immediately planted a ladder against the exterior wall, and 

 examined the stones until he discovered the entrance to the bees' habi- 

 tation. It was a mere fissure between two stones, where some of the 

 mortar had fallen out, and the remainder been extracted by the beefc, 

 for their own convenience. After surveying the prospect for some tim^ 

 he declared that a stone must be taken out of the wall before the bees 

 could be dislodged, and immediately began to loosen the stone which 

 had already been partly deprived of its mortar. The bees, of course, 

 were highly indignant at such an assault, but the man coolly proceeded 

 with his work, not heeding their anger in the least. When the stone 

 had been completely loosened, he laid by the crowbar, and deliberately 

 pulled it out with his hands. Out rushed a perfect cloud of bees full 

 in his face ; but he quietly laid the ^tone down, and contented himself 

 with brushing them off his face untilhe had made further investigations. 

 Allthe spectators took to flight at the first appearance of the enraged 

 bees ; but their imperturbable enemy remained quietly at his post, and 

 after descending the ladder pulled some eight or ten bees out of his 

 hail', and remarked that they had not stung him so much as ho expected. 



