§ n.] TRAXSFERR[NG SIVA RMS. 221 



or crown- board, having been replaced, the hive should at 

 once be removed to the position it is intended to perma- 

 nently" occupy." 



Bees occasionally manifest a dislike to their new hive. 

 The operator will, however, in a very short time be able 

 to ascertain their intentions. If on putting his ear to the 

 hive he- catches sounds like gnawing or rubbing, he may 

 be sure that they have commenced work ; but if all is still, 

 or they go listlessly about, and hang, as Langstroth puts, 

 it, " with a sort of- dogged or supercilious air," it may be 

 gathered that they intend to be off at the first opportunity. 

 In such case, either catch the queen and put her in a 

 cage (page 198), or keep the whole hive in darkness for 

 three days, supplying food, water, and ventilation the 

 while. 



If the weather be wet the next day or so after hiving, 

 it will be well to give a little assistance to the new colony 

 in the shape of food, for although, when a swarm leaves 

 , a hive, almost every bee composing it has filled itself with 

 honey, we have -known not a few instances, in case of very 

 wet weather, in which the whole swarm has been starved 

 for the want of this small but most timely help. A little 

 should be given the first night even in fine weather. Of 

 course, the first work of the bees is to build themselves 

 combs, and these combs being produced by the secretion 

 of wax from honey, a great drain upon their resources 

 immediately begins, and any Uttle outlay at this juncture 

 is therefore abundantly compensated. 



