PRIMARY SWARM. 223 
ration of two colonies in one hive. By hiving, in a large 
box, swarms which have settled together, and leaving them 
undisturbed till the following morning, they would some- 
times be found in separate clusters, and might easily be put 
into different hives. 
If the Apiarist fears that another swarm will issue, to 
unite with the one he is hiving, he may cover the latter from 
the sight of other swarms, with a sheet. 
438. If, while hiving a swarm, he wishes to secure the 
queen, the bees should be shaken from the hiving-basket, a 
foot or more from the hive, when a quick eye will generally 
see her as she passes over the sheet. If the bees are reluc- 
tant to go in, a few must be directed to the entrance, and 
care be taken to brush them back, when they press forward 
in such dense masses that the queen is likely to enter unob- 
served. An experienced eye readily detects her peculiar 
color and form (100). 
It is interesting to witness how speedily a queen passes 
into the hive, as soon as she recognizes the joyful note (76) 
announcing that her colony has founda home. She quickly 
follows in the direction of the moving mass, and her long 
legs enable her easily to outstrip, in the race for possession, 
all who attempt to follow her. Other bees linger around 
the entrance, or fly into the air, or collect in listless knots 
on the sheet; but a fertile mother, with an air of conscious 
importance, marches straight forward, and looking neither 
to the right hand nor to the left, glides into the hive with 
the same dispatchful haste that characterizes a bee return- 
ing fully laden from the nectar-bearing fields. 
439. Swarms sometimes come off when no suitable hives 
are in readiness to receive them. In such an emergency, 
hive them in any old box, cask, or measure, and place 
them, with suitable protection against the sun, where their 
new hive is to stand; when this is ready, they may, by a 
quick, jerking motion, be easily shaken out before it, on a 
hiving-sheet. 
