230 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OE BEES. 



bees, will make a snug, warm place for winter quarters. 

 The "deer mouse" seems to be particularly fond of the 

 bees, while those belonging to the house, seem to relish 

 the honey. 



The entrance to the hives should be contracted so that 

 a mouse cannot enter. The apartment in which the bees 

 are wintered, should be cleared of rats and mice, and 

 every means taken to keep them out, as their running 

 over the hives, even if prevented from entering them, 

 annoys and disturbs the bees. 



BIRDS. 



Most birds are included in the list of enemies of bees, 

 but I have a word to say in favor of some of them. The 

 King-bird is generally placed at the head of the list of 

 feathered depredators. After close observation of the 

 habits of this bird, I am convinced that he destroys not 

 only drones, but workers and queens as well. The King- 

 birds are most active about the apiary at those times of 

 the day when the drones are flying most freely. This indi- 

 cates to me the greatest injury they may inflict upon our 

 interests. The queens are then usually upon the wing to 

 meet the drones, and are consequently in danger of being 

 caught by the birds. My friend, Mr. B. D. Clark, is 

 quite positive that he lost several queens in one season, 

 in this manner. If I were rearing queens largely, and 

 these birds were numerous at this period, I should feel 

 justified in reducing their niimbers, but under ordinary 

 circumstances, I should be slow to recommend their de- 

 struction. 



Since writing the above. Captain Hetherington has re- 

 lated to me the conclusions of another gentleman, who is 

 a close observer. The general result of an examination 

 of their crops is, that the remains of the bees are in such a 

 mutilated condition as to be beyond identification, This 



