214 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v.. 



which it is desirable that they should alight ; another 

 plan is to hang some black woven material near the 

 hive, so that the swarming bees may be led to" suppose 

 they see another colony, to which they will hasten ta 

 attach themselves. Swarms have a great affinity for each 

 other when they are adrift in the air; but, of course, 

 when the union has been effected, one of the rival queens- 

 has to be disposed- of. A more ingenious device than 

 any of the above is by means of a mirror to flash a 

 reflection of the sun's rays amongst a swarm, which be- 

 wilders the bees and checks their flight. It is manifestly 

 often desirable to use some of these endeavours to induce 

 early settlement, and to prevent, if possible, the bees- 

 from clustering in high trees or under the eaves of houses, 

 where it may be difficult to hive them. 



Should prompt measures not be taken to hive the bees- 

 as soon as the cluster is well formed, there is danger that 

 within one or two hours they may start on a second 

 flight ; and this is what the apiarian has so much to- 

 dread. If the bees set off a second time it is generally 

 for a long flight, often for miles, so that in such a case it 

 is usually impossible to follow them, and consequently a 

 valuable colony may be irretrievably lost. 



Too much care cannot be exercised to keep off" the sun. 

 from a swarm when it has once settled. If exposed to- 

 heat in this way, bees are very likely to decamp. We 

 have frequently stretched matting or sheeting on poles sa 

 as to intercept the glare, and thus render their temporary- 



