THE DRONE-CATCHER. 127 



the cage being large enough to allow the worker to escape, 

 whilst, at the same time it imprisons the larger drone. It 

 acts precisely upon the same principle as the " catch-em- 

 alive " mouse-traps. The mouth and the bottom-board 

 should, if possible, be made of one piece of timber, and a 

 part should be cut off the mouth corresponding with the 

 letter a to allow the workers returning from the fields to 



DRONE CAGE. 



enter the hive. It is advisable when using this trap to 

 place it on the hive about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and 

 to watch it, so that when filled it may at once be taken 

 from the hive and emptied; thus the hive or worker bees 

 will not be hindered in their work. We have seen them 

 made with a loose mouth ; these are far better to work, 

 for the simple reason when the drones are killed with 

 boiling water they may the more easily be taken from the 

 trap. The part marked a is a prolongation of the mouth; 

 this is to prevent the drones crawling back to the hive 

 again, which they would easily do if the wire-work was 

 only connected with the hive. Those of our readers who 

 have not the opportunity or inclination to make these 

 traps may obtain them from Messrs. Neighbour, of High 

 Holborn, London. 



The use of the drone-trap saves the worker-bees much 

 extra labour and some danger. 



