Insects. 385 



If it has settled upon anything detachable, as 

 a tree branch, or projecting board, bee-keepers 

 spread a white sheet down underneath, place 

 a clean hive in the middle of the sheet, then 

 saw ofF the bough or the board, and lower it 

 gently, taking care not to disturb the bees. 

 If the bees cannot be thus detached, they are 

 sprinkled and swept off. After a little those 

 upon the outer edge begin crawling along the 

 sheet, and go inside the hive. They may 

 come back in a minute. Commonly there are 

 three hours of running to and fro. If at last 

 they stay inside, the hive is left standing until 

 night, then moved in place on the stand. But 

 the bees may go in with every sign of satis- 

 faction, then all at once swarm out again, and 

 whip away before anybody knows it. 



Wild bees are not native to America, but 

 strays from civilization. In the old days it is 

 said the wild swarms kept twenty miles in ad- 

 vance of the pioneers. The Indians said when 

 they heard them humming about : " Here 

 come the little white men ! " A wild swarm, 

 undisturbed, with plenty of pasture, will stay 

 for fifty years in the same place, filling every 

 crack and cranny of it with honey and brood 

 comb. A dry cave, or an unused garret or 

 belfry, suits them to a nicety. 



Bee superstitions are innumerable. Old 

 man Shack had at least twenty without stop- 



