“230 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES. 
bees, will make a snug, warm place for winter quarters. 
The “‘deer mouse” seems to be particularly fond of the 
bees, while those belonging to the house, seem to relish 
the honey. 
The entrance to the hives should be contracted so that 
a mouse cannot enter. The apartment in which the bees 
are wintered, should be cleared of rats and- mice, and 
every means taken to keep them out, as their running 
over the hives, even if prevented from entering them, 
annoys and disturbs the bees. 
BIRDS. 
Most birds are included in the list of enemies of bees, 
but I have a word to say in favor of some of them. The 
King-bird is generally placed at the head of the list of 
feathered depredators. After close observation of the 
habits of this bird, Iam convinced that he destroys not 
only drones, but workers and queens as well. The King- 
birds are most active about the apiary at those times of 
the day when the drones are flying most freely. This indi- 
cates to me the greatest injury they may inflict upon our 
interests. The queens are then usually upon the wing to 
meet the drones, and are consequently in danger of being 
caught by the birds. My friend, Mr. E. D. Clark, is 
quite positive that he lost several queens in one season, 
in this manner. If I were rearing queens largely, and 
these birds were numerous at this period, I should feel 
justified in reducing their numbers, but under ordinary 
circumstances, I should be slow to recommend their de- 
struction. 
Since writing the above, Captain Hetherington has re- 
lated to me the conclusions of another gentleman, who is 
a close observer. The general result of an examination 
of their crops is, that the remains of the bees are in such a 
mutilated condition as to be beyond identification. This 
