NATURAL SWARMING. 185 



of honey, which would be stored largely by a stock 

 restrained from self-diminution, and loss of general 

 strength, through there not being bees enough to 

 collect food for store, and to look after the constantly 

 hatching brood. 



A curious illustration of sagacity in the workers 

 is, that casts and after-swarms, if allowed to build 

 in a box as they please, select a corner, instead 

 of the middle, for beginning, knowing that, through 

 the smallness of their numbers, they are unUkely 

 to fill their abode with comb, and so taking 

 the precaution to secure the snuggest and warmest 

 position for such combs as they will be able to 

 construct. They feel that their only chance of sur- 

 viving as a colony is their being able to keep up 

 sufficient heat to hatch the eggs, and to bring for- 

 ward the brood in the early autumn and the next 

 spring. First swarms, confident in their strength, 

 commence their work in the middle of a hive. 



We have already mentioned that the bees, in 

 swarming, start with their honey-bags full. This 

 supply will last them about three . days. If, at the 

 end of that time, the weather should be dull and 

 unfavourable for flying abroad, great benefit will be 

 conferred on the young colony by giving a supply 

 of syrup. We shall speak later on of the method 

 in which it is to be administered. As bees waste 

 nothing, and never remain idle because they have a 

 store of food, whatever is given them will be eco- 

 nomically used. Moreover, they prefer their natural 

 sources of supply, and will not take advantage of 

 their owner's generosity in giving them syrup, if they 

 can gather honey. At the same time, the needs of a 



