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I)ofore tho issuing of the swarm. The length of time dur- 

 ing which it may bo lieard, seems also to be governed by 

 the yield of honey ; when that is abundant, it is common 

 for them to issue the next day, but when it is somewhat 

 scarce, they will very often delay three or four days. In 

 such instances, third swarms seldom occur. 



Piping for third swarms may usually be heard the even- 

 ing after the second has left, though one day commonly 

 intervenes between their issues. 



VARIATION HSr TIME OF SWARMS IBSniNG. 



Here my experience is at variance with many writers, 

 who say there will be an interval of several days between 

 second and third swarms. I do not remember of any in- 

 terval of more than three days, but I have known many 

 to issue in less time, several the next day, and a few on 

 the same day with the second. I once had an instance 

 where a swarm lost its queen^ on its first sally, and Te- 

 turned to wait for the young ones ; when they were 

 ready an uncommon number of bees was present, and three 

 swarms issued in three days ! On the fourth another came 

 out and returned ; the fifth day it left, making four regu- 

 lar swarms in five days. On the eighth day the fifth 

 swarm left. Although I had never had a fifth swarm be- 

 fore, I expected this from the fact that I heard tlje piping 

 on the evening subsequent to the fourth s\yarm. The 

 piping continued in this hive from the evening previous to 

 the first swarm, tUl the last one had left. 



Occasionally piping may be heard and no swarm issue. 

 The bees seem to change their mind about swarming, and 

 kill their queens, or allow the eldest one to destroy the 

 others, as is evident from the fact that sometirnes swarms 

 are indicated, and none issue. When the piping-continues 

 over twenty-four hours, they seldom fail to swarm. 



I have known in a few instances piping to commence. 



