WHY DO BEES SWARM? - 83 



with snow, no doubt starved out. Not always when bees are short 

 of stores will they leave in a mass as if swarming. I once knew 

 a swarm of bees that had but) a small quantity of honey stored 

 for winter use make friends with an adjoining colony where 

 there was plenty of stores, and acted literally up to the text "To 

 him that hath shall be given," the members of the better equip- 

 ped colony helping to transport the store, the weaker colony grad- 

 ually intermixing with the stronger. Bees, as a rule, will not 

 permit intruders to enter, but when they bring their own but- 

 tered scone, and their own tea and sugar, the visited very much 

 relax that supposed hard and fast rule. Langsworth says: ".Bees 

 sometimes abandon their hives very early in the spring or late in 

 summer or fall. Although exhibiting the appearance of natural 

 swarming, they leave, not because the population is so crowded 

 that they wish to form new colonies, but because it is either so 

 small or the hives so destitute of supplies that they are driven to 

 desperation." I have known a starving colony to leave their 

 hive on a spring-like day in December in the old land. 



There is no doubt the instinct of swarming is not a sudden 

 impulse, but notwithstanding that, De Reaumur has assured us the 

 immediate cause of swarming remains doubtful and obscure. 

 Practical and scientific observation has robbed it of its doubtfulness 

 and obscurity. The bar-frame hives of to-day have drawn aside 

 the veil of mystery and thrown wide open the door for investiga- 

 tion, so that the merest novice may ascertain the fact that the 

 earlier scientists yearned for but died without the knowledge. 

 The great Teacher said: "Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: 

 When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves ye know 

 that summer is nigh." Now learn a parable of bee life: When 

 the fruit-trees putteth forth their tender blossom buds you know 

 that spring is nigh ; and when the bees are seen hurrying home 

 with their thighs packed with spring pollen you know that the 

 swarming instinct is nigh; and when you look into your hives 

 and see queen cells developing you know that swarming is even 

 at your door. Now learn another parable : When the tender 

 grass blade shoots forth, and insects and other poultry food become 

 plentiful, you know that the laying season for your hen is nigh; 

 and when she has been laying for some time, and remains on 

 the nest longer than usual you know that her sitting time is 

 nigh; and after she has been sitting twenty-one days you will 

 expect the chicken at your door. 



