222 BEES AND DEE-KEEPING. 



robbing it. When I came to examine closely, there 

 was only a mere handful of bees in it ; there was 

 plenty of honey and bee-bread in it, but I can't con- 

 ceive what became of the bees." This is but one 

 of many such inquiries I have been called upon to 

 answer ; indeed there is scarcely a yard where bees 

 are kept, however few, but lose one or more queens 

 annually from this cause alone. 



CAUSE OF THEIR LOSS. 



I have found that a serious loss of queens occurs 

 during their excursions abroad to meet the drones in 

 the air for impregnation, when they are caught by 

 birds or blown down by high winds ; but the greatest 

 loss arises from mistaking their own hive, and alight- 

 ing and attempting to enter some hive near it, in their 

 return from their amours, where certain destruction 

 awaits them, if not observed and rescued by the 

 apiarian, which is seldom done. I rescued several 

 during the past summer, and with a little care found 

 where they belonged, and returned them safely. 



When the first swarm leaves a hive, the old queen 

 accompanies it, leaving a sealed or embryo queen to 

 fill her place, and others to lead any subsequent 

 swarms that may issue ; hence, the old hive, and all 

 after-swarms, will have young queens that must 

 necessarily go forth to meet the drones, and con- 

 sequently are liable to be lost. It is very important 

 to examine all hives that have cast a swarm, about 

 ten days from the time the first swarm left, and if no 

 eggs are found in the combs, examine again and 



