68 THE BOOK OF THE HONEY BEE 



use a small screwdriver as a lever underneath the lugs. 

 Having moved the dummy, draw back the first frame 

 until it is midway between the dummy and the second 

 frame, then taking a firm hold of each lug gently lift 

 it right out of the hive, taking care not to rub the attached 

 bees against their neighbours on the adjoining frame in 

 so doing. Nothing tends more to irritate bees than to 

 be rubbed between two combs. 



The novice must not mind stray bees walking over 

 his hands, and although this may give rise to consider- 

 able trepidation he must do his utmost to overcome his 

 natural fears. Bees do not invariably sting whatever 

 they alight upon, and they are just as likely to sting 

 the frames, hive sides or anything else as the bee master's 

 hands. One rule must be ever borne in mind. If stung 

 don't flinch. As soon as possible, extract the sting. A 

 capital way of doing this is to gouge it out with the 

 nozzle of the smoker. Not only will the tarry matters 

 which invariably collect round the nozzle of the smoker, 

 due to the destructive distillation of the fuel, at once 

 disguise the odour of the sting (this being a source of 

 great irritation to the bees), but will also probably act 

 as an antiseptic to the wound. The beginner must 

 comfort himself that every sting he receives tends to 

 lessen the efi'ect of the next one, until in time he may 

 reasonably hope to become sting proof. 



But to return to our manipulations. The first frame 

 having been withdrawn is lifted up level with the eyes 

 and carefully examined. Accustom yourself from the 

 first to note everything of interest. Look out for the 

 queen. Observe the quantity of brood, whether sealed 

 or unsealed, drone or worker, and the amount of sealed 

 stores in the upper portions of the comb. The weight of 

 the frame should be a guide to the amount of honey it 

 contains. Also look out for queen cells, and if swarms 

 are not desired break them off. The bees attached to 



