HOW TO STOP ROBBING. 377 



desperation, some of the adjoining hives. In this way, the 

 strongest colonies are sometimes overpowered, or thousands 

 of bees slain in the desperate contest. 



How TO Stop Robbing. 



When an Apiarist perceives that a colony is being robbed, 

 he should contract the entrance, and, if the assailants persist 

 in forcing their way in, he must close it entirely. In a few 

 minutes the hive will be black with the greedy coi-morants, 

 who will not abandon it till they have attempted to squeeze 

 themselves through the smallest openings. Before they assail 

 a neighboring colony, they should be thoroughly sprinkled 

 with cold water, which will somewhat cool their ardor. 



Unless the bees, that were shut up, can have an abundance 

 of air, they should be carried to a cool, dark place, after the 

 Apiarist has allowed the robbers to escape out of it. Early 

 the nest morning they must be exammed, and, if necessary, 

 united to another hive. 



' ' In Germany, when colonies in common hives are being 

 robbed, they are often removed to a distant location, or put 

 in a dark cellar. A hive, similar in appearance, is placed on 

 their stand, and leaves of wormwood and the expressed juice 

 of the plant are put on the bottom-board. Bees have such an 

 antipathy to the odor of this plant, that the robbers speedily 

 forsake the place, and the assailed colony may then be brought 

 back. 



' ' The Eev. Mr. Kleine says, that robbers may be repelled by 

 imparting to the hive some intensely powerful and unaccus- 

 tomed odor. He effects this the most readily by placing in it, 

 in the evening, a small portion of musk, and on the following 

 morning the bees, if they have a healthy queen, will boldly 

 meet their assailants. These are nonplussed by the unwonted 

 odor, and, if any of them enter the hive and carry off some of 

 the coveted booty, on their return home, having a strange 

 smell, they will be killed by their own household. The rob- 

 bing is thus soon brought to a close." — S. Wagner. 



