24 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



leaves. It may, and sometimes does happen, that two 

 places are selected, half the swarm going to the one, and 

 the rest to the other place. 



But let us return to the hive, and there we shall find 

 something to excite our admiration. Thirty or forty 

 thousand bees are about to leave the place of their birth, 

 and comforts of home, never to return. Home-sickness is 

 unknown to emigrant bees, provided they have a queen 

 amongst them. The signal for departure will soon be 

 given, but not before these thousands of bees have well 

 filled their bags with honey. Which great bee gives 

 the signal to go will never be told, but unquestionably a 

 signal is given, for in a moment the swarm begins to gush 

 pell-mell, like a flowing stream, out of the hive. "What 

 an exodus ! What an interesting sight ! Talk about the 

 Pilgrim Fathers (and all honour to them) leaving their 

 native land for the shores of America ! Look at these 

 courageous bees in the act of swarming, rushing forth 

 to make the air ring with their cheers, rising into the 

 atmosphere, and there roaring at the fuUest pitch of 

 joy and gladness. The swarming of bees is like a 

 wedding, in this particular, that it seems to inspire all 

 spectators with a felt interest and enthusiasm in the 

 scene. Brave colonists ! go and prosper, and multiply 

 exceedingly ! 



Let us look into the mother hive. Why so quiet now 1 

 No crowding, no suffocation, scarcely a sound is heard. 

 More than half the bees are gone ; still there are enough 

 left to rear and hatch the brood. Comparatively few 

 hands can be spared now to gather honey ; but great 

 numbers are born daily — brood becomes population, 

 There is no queen to lay eggs. In a short time many 

 cells wiU be empty, and an ample population, all but free 

 from the duties of nursing, ready and willing to fill them 



