26 THE APIARY. 



hives, so that the swarming bees may be led to suppose 

 they see another colony, to which they will hasten to 

 attach themselves. Swarms have a great affinity for 

 each other when they are adrift in the air; but, of 

 course, when the union has been effected, the rival 

 queens have to do battle for supremacy. A more inge^ 

 nious device than any of the above is by means of a 

 mirror, to flash a reflection of the sun's rays amongst a 

 swarm, which bewilders the bees, and checks their flight. 

 It is manifestly often desirable to use some of these en- 

 deavours to induce early settlement, and to prevent, if 

 possible, the bees from clustering in high trees or under 

 the eaves of houses, where it may be difficult to hive 

 them. 



Should prompt measures not be taken to hive the bees 

 as soon as the cluster is well formed, there is danger of 

 their starting on a second flight ; and this is what the 

 apiarian has so much to dread. If the bees set off a 

 second time, it is generally for a long flight, often for 

 miles, so that in such a case it is usually impossible to 

 follow them, and consequently a valuable colony may be 

 irretrievably lost. 



Too much care cannot be exercised to prevent the 

 sun's rays falling on a swarm when it has once settled. 

 If exposed to heat in this way, bees are very likely to 

 decamp. We have frequently stretched matting or 

 sheeting on poles, so as to intercept the glare, and thus 

 render their temporary position cool and comfortable. 



