AUTUMN MANAGEMENT. 197 
super is removed, though only to a short distance, 
these are in part lost, not having become  sulfi- 
ciently acquainted with the position of their home ; 
or, if they enter a wrong hive, they pay the penalty 
with their lives. This freedom from disturbance 
has the further good effect of preventing in a great 
degree the intrusion of robber bees, readily dis- 
tinguishable from the others by their hovering about 
the box, instead of flying from it. These are 
strangers from various quarters, immediately at- 
tracted by the scent attending the removal of a full 
box or glass. Should a few of these plunderers 
once obtain a taste or sample of the honey, they 
speedily convey the good news to their associates, 
when large reinforcements from every hive in the 
neighbourhood will be at once on the alert, and 
quickly leave nothing behind but empty combs. 
If all is as desired, the super may now be lifted 
and removed. When separated, it must not be left 
or lost sight of, but, if scented out by robbers, be 
conveyed into some room or out-building to prevent 
a general battle—which might even extend itself to 
all the neighbouring hives. The remaining bees 
may here be brushed out, when they will escape by 
the window or door. Mr. Golding has sometimes 
found the advantage of using for this purpose a 
darkened room, with the exception of a very small 
aperture, to which the bees will fly and thus make 
their exit. Others like to remove a super at once to 
a short distance from the stock-hive, leaving it shut 
up in perfect darkness for an hour or two. Its 
edge is then raised up, when the bees will evacuate 
