122 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



sisted. The robbers, thus thwarted, instantly let the 

 whole fraternity of their own hive know that "their 

 game was up '' — that no more honey could he got from 

 that quarter. Often have we seen hives assaulted again 

 and again with spirit and determination, and every assault 

 successfully and spiritedly resisted. These continuous 

 and persistent attacks are prohahly owing to one or two 

 of the enemy having got access to the city, and escaped 

 with some spoil before the defenders were aware. It has 

 ever been a marvel to witness the result of a few bees in- 

 timating to their companions that honey has been found, 

 and that more may be had. How the intimation is given 

 we cannot tell ; but sometimes combined attacks are sud- 

 denly made, and sometimes as suddenly ended. When 

 the bee-master sees any of his hives assaulted, and every 

 assaulting bee hurled back, he has little to fear ; and all 

 that he can do is to contract the door, and thus enable 

 his bees to defend their citadel. If robbers have no 

 mercy, neither have the defenders. Every bee defending 

 its hive is- a qualified judge and executioner. If a robber 

 is caught, lynch-law takes its course. 



Bees know each other by smell, and they know strangers 

 in the same way. If robbers are not resisted, and kept 

 out of the hive attacked at first, there is no attempt made 

 to resist them after having been allowed to go in and out 

 for some time. They soon pillage the hive of all its trea- 

 sure. While this pillaging is taking place, the bees work 

 early and late, wet and dry. Weak hives are generally 

 the sufferers ; but sometimes strong ones are invaded and 

 robbed whUe busy gathering honey. 



Every experienced apiarian knows robbers by their 

 stealthy manner of attempting to enter hives for plunder, 

 and he knows them by the way they leave the hive laden 

 with it. This knowledge cannot be obtained by reading, 

 but is gained by observation. 



