Texas Bekkeepino. 



95 



thing, and take wing immediately, to fly around with thousands of 

 others, in a manner that makes one dizzy to watch. The queen does 

 not lead them out, as many suppose. In fact, she is often among the 

 last to come forth from the hive. It is always the old queen that 

 goes with the first prime swarm. 



There is no rule that governs which of the bees shall go with the 

 swarm or which shall remain in the old home, consequently, bees of 

 all ages are found in each division. Bees, so young that they can 

 not fly, may be found in front of the hive trying to join the swarm, 

 but unable to do so, and within the hive will be found bees ranging 

 from those just emerging from the brood cells to the very oldest, shiny 

 and almost worn out bees. 



The swarm will circle around in the air, sometimes shifting from 

 one part of the apiary to another, and often some distance from it, 

 before alighting, while in other instances the bees alight almost at 

 once. The noise made by a swarm is a characteristic, loud one, very 

 much like that of a rapidly running machine heard at a distance. 

 Usually the alighting place is on a limb of some low growing shrub, 

 or other object from which the swarm can very easily be shaken off 

 in front of the entrance of a hive and allowed to run into their new 

 home. 



It is very disagreeable for swarms to cluster high up in tall trees, 



A swarm entering its new home. 



