SWARMING AND HIVING. 51 
their own, and when these scouts returned, they left 
with them foranew home. I contend every swarm does 
this, viz: They swarm out of the old parent stock, led 
by the old queen. They cluster on some object, as a 
tree, bush or vine, near the old home. Then they 
immediately send out a few bees or scouts to look up a 
newhome. These scouts may be gone a longer or shorter 
time. When they return, if they find the bees clustered 
where they were when they left, they soon lead them off 
to the new quarters, but if before the scouts are sent out 
or before they return, the swarm is hived and placed on 
the stand it is to occupy, then the swarm will not leave, 
for the scouts know not where to find them, or if they 
should find them, the bees would seldom leave a good 
clean hive, for a home in the woods. These scouts may 
often be seen playing about the place where a swarm 
has clustered, for several days after the swarm has been 
hived. 
Had this bee-keeper placed his hive on the table, as soon 
as the bees were clustered, and raised the front edge one 
inch, instead of four or six inches, and then, instead of 
cutting off the limb, if he had taken a basket or pan, 
placed it beneath the cluster of bees, and by a sudden jar 
of the limb dislodged them from it into the basket or pan, 
then emptied them down in front of the hive and sprinkled 
‘lightly with a little water, at the same time disturbing 
them gently with a quill or light brush so they would 
not collect around and block up the entrance except a 
very few that may be flying in the air (and these will 
