TO STORES OF FOOD. 281 
It is generally stated not only that the bees ina 
hive all know one another, but also that they immedi- 
ately recognise and attack any intruder from another 
hive. It is possible that the bees of particular hives 
_have a particular smell. Thus Langstroth, in his in- 
teresting ‘ Treatise on the Honey-Bee,’ says, ‘ Members 
of different colonies appear to recognise their hive 
companions by the sense of smell ;’ and I believe that 
if colonies are sprinkled with scented syrup they may 
generally be safely mixed. Moreover, a bee returning 
to its own hive with a load of treasure is a very dif- 
ferent creature from a hungry marauder; and it is 
said that a bee, if laden with honey, is allowed to enter 
any hive with impunity. Mr. Langstroth continues : 
‘There is an air of roguery about a thieving bee which, 
to the expert, is as characteristic as are the motions of 
a pickpocket to a skilful policeman. Its sneaking look 
and nervous, guilty agitation, once seen, can never be 
mistaken.’ It is at any rate natural that a bee which 
enters a wrong hive by accident should be much sur- 
prised and alarmed, and would thus probably betray 
herself. j 
So far as my own observations go, though bees 
habitually know and return to their own hive, still, if 
placed on the alighting-board of another, they often 
enter it without molestation. Thus :— 
On May 4 I put a strange bee into a hive at 2 
o’clock. She remained in till 2.20, when she came out, 
but entered again directly. I was away most of the 
