itvui.] ROBBING. 30s 



§ VIII. ROBBING. 



We have had man)' tunes to allude to the truly sad 

 character which our little favourites bear in this particu- 

 lar. Directions as to the precautions necessitated thereby 

 have been given pretty generally in connection with 

 operations in which it is to be feared, so that one or two 

 general remarks are all that need be added here. Von 

 Berlepsch stoutly maintains that there are no professional 

 robbers amongst the bees, but that all are ready to lend 

 a hand in a job of the kind when it is to be had. This 

 is probably true in great part, but not to the extent that 

 there exist no individual differences in the strength of 

 the propensity, and the remark quoted from Dzierzon on 

 "black " bees (page 72) may be taken as expressive of 

 the other side of the truth. 



It is queenless stocks, nucleus hives, and weak colonies 

 in general that have most need for protection against 

 enemies of their own kind. By keeping the entrances 

 narrowed, and feeding carefully without leaving a trace 

 of food about, the enticements to plunder may be 

 kept down as much as possible. It has been recently 

 recommended in extreme cases to saturate a rag with 

 carbolic acid diluted with water (fully half) ; this will 

 eifectually repel all except those who have no other 

 home to which to betake themselves. But it will be 

 obnoxious to these latter as well, so should not be lightly 

 resorted to. 



