224 SUMMER. 



ready to leave one or two days short of the time re- 

 quired for second swarms. Whether a greater nnm 

 ber of bees in the old stock creating m"ore animal heat, 

 matures the chrysalis in less time than a stock thinned 

 by casting a swarm, or some other cause, I cannot say. 

 I mention it because I have known it to occur fre- 

 quently, but not invariably A swarm flying, nnao- 

 companied by a queen, is scattered more than usual. 



FIRST ISSUES GENERALLY CHOOSE FAIR WEATHER. 



First swarms are commonly more particular as to 

 weather than after swarms. They have several days 

 from which to choose, after these royal cells are ready, 

 and before the queens are matured ; and they usually 

 take a fair one. But here again are exceptions. I 

 once had two first swarms issue in a wind that kept 

 every branch of tree and bush in agitation to such a 

 degree that it was impossible to find any such place 

 to cluster. I expected their return to the old hive ; 

 but here were more exceptions. After repeating a 

 fruitless attempt at the branches, they gave it up, and 

 came down amongst the grass on " terra flrma." This 

 occurred after several days of rainy weather. The 

 next day being pleasant;, twelve issued ; almost prov- 

 ing that the wind the preceding day kept back a part. 

 I also knew one to issue in a shower, that beat many 

 of them to the ground before they could cluster. In 

 this case the shower was sudden, the sun shone almost 

 up to the time it began to rain. About this time the 

 swarm started when it seemed they were unwilling to 

 turn about. 



