214 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



left in its place, they seem to think they. haVe made a mistake 

 as to the place and hunt all around for the missing section, 

 until they force their way into the nearest conquerable colony. 

 If a weak colony is attacked, I may sometimes take it 

 away, but if I do, I immediately put in its place an empty hive 

 in which I put some scraps of comb containing- a little honey. 



Fi,,. 



-Hire, Xo. 12, Closed for Haalinij. 



They will rob this out and that will be the end of it. It is 

 possible that dry comb without any honey might answer. 



ROBBING FAULT OF BEEKEEPER. 



Exeei)t in case of queenless colonies, I am somewhat of 

 the opinion that most cases of robbing have been through my 

 own carelessness. When there is nothing to do in the fields, 

 the bees may be seen busily trying to enter cracks about hives 

 so small that there is no possibility of their entering, and they 

 are sharp to observe any change. If, at such times, a fresh 

 opening be left anywliere about a hive, it is sure to be dis- 

 covered. An entrance at tlie top of the brood-chamber, at the 

 back end, may be left open all tlie season without being dis- 



