160 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
ample head-room for lifting, which is a matter of no 
small importance. It matters not what the length of 
the house is, but where space is a matter of con- 
sideration, a semicircular or half-octagonal form, as 
represented at page 152, may be adopted. In sucha 
case one side will face due east, and the other side 
due south. Perhaps a point or two beyond these 
extremes may be allowable, but we cannot say from 
experience how far north and west aspects are allow- 
able.” 
When once fixed, do not move your bees, for the 
mischief of this act is self-evident. I cannot enforce 
this recommendation better than Gelieu has done. 
“T have seen people,” says he, ‘shift about their 
hives very inconsiderately; but change of place 
invariably weakens them, as the bees will return to 
their old residence, the environs of which are so 
familiar to them. A hive should remain as fixed to 
the spot as the ancient oaks, in the hollows of which 
the insects delight to establish themselves; where they 
have their young, their companions, their queen, 
and all their treasures. When the young bees take 
wing for the first time, they do it with great 
precaution, turning round and round, and fluttering 
about the entrance, to examine the hive well before 
taking flight. They do the same in returning, so that 
they may be easily distinguished, conducting them- 
selves nearly after the same manner as the workers of 
a newly-hived swarm. When they have made a few 
excursions, they set off without examining the 
locality; and returning in full flight will know their 
own hive in the midst of a hundred others. But if 
