1;-14 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



great many cases Italian queens are found about the 

 centre of the brood-nest and hardly ever on combs of 

 honey. Black queens, on the contrary, run pell mell over 

 the combs whenever disturbed, and the apiarist may veiy 

 likely find her on the wall of the hive. However, when 

 found, the frame should he leaned up against the hive, 

 standing on the end-bar. 



Fig, 59. How to (lip the Queen's wings. 



Plave a pair of fine-pointed scissors close at hand. 

 Follow the ({ueen over the comb with the thumb and index 

 finger of the right hand, ready to pick her up gently 

 by the wings when she remains still a moment. Wnen 

 caught in this manner, it leaves the queen's head clear, so 

 that the operator will have no trouble in holding her by 

 the head and thorax, with the first finger and thumb of 

 tlie left hand. The other hand is then free to use the 

 scissors in the way illustrated in Fig. 59. Do not be 

 afraid of hurting the queen's head or thorax. These 

 ])ortions of the queen's body are extremely hard, but the 

 abdomen, containing the egg-producing organs or ovaries, 



