800 THE APIARY. 
If the queen is not with the bees, a few will come out ana 
run about, as if anxiously searching for something they 
have lost. The alarm is rapidly communicated to the whole 
colony; the explorers are reinforced, the ventilators sus- 
pend their operations, and soon the air is filled with bees. 
If they cannot find the queen, they return to their old stand, 
and if no hive is there, will soon enter one of the adjoining 
colonies. If their queen is restored to them soon after they 
miss her, those running out of the hive will make a half-cir- 
cle, and return; the joyful news is quickly communicated 
to those on the wing, who forthwith alight and enter the 
hive; all appearance of agitated running about on the out- 
side of the hive ceases, and ventilation, withits joyful hum, 
is again resumed.* 
If the queen has not left the old hive, it is safer to return 
the bees and to resume the driving at another time. 
578. To transfer the comb, have on hand tools for pry- 
ing off a side of the hive; a large knife for cutting out the 
combs; vessels for the honey; a table or board, on which 
to lay the brood combs; and water for washing off, from 
time to time, the honey which will stick to your hands. 
Have also a number of pieces of wire, No. 16, cut a little 
longer than the frame, and bent on the ends in this shape 
.— to be driven into the wood of the frame, and to hold 
the combs in place. Leta certain number of frames be in 
readiness, with three or four of these wires fastened on one 
side, and lay them on the table, wire-side down. You must 
also have your movable frame hive in readiness near the 
table, with an extracting pan (770) under it, instead of a 
bottom board, to receive what honey may drip. All this 
must be ready before disturbing the bees. 
579. Having selected the worker-combs, carefully cut 
* To witness these interesting proceedings, it 1s only necessary to catch the 
queen, and keep her until she is missed by hercolony. For greater security, 
she should be confined in a queen cage (536) during the experiment. 
