HOW TO STOP ROBBING. 363 
they are accustomed to bring their honey; and they defend 
it with as much energy as they used in attacking it before. 
See Quinby’s ‘‘ Mysteries of Bee-Keeping’’ N. Y., 1866. 
670. We read in the British Bee-Journal that a car- 
bolized sheet ($84) can be used to stop robbing, if spread 
in front of the robbed hive. This same sheet, spread on 
the hive as soon as opened while extracting (749), and on 
the surplus box where the combs are placed (768), dis- 
pleases the robbers and protects the comb, 
G71. There is a kind of pillage which is carried on so 
secretly as often to escape all notice. The bees engaged 
in it do not enter in large numbers, no fighting is visible, 
and the labors of the hive appear to be progressing with 
their usual quietness. All the while, however, strange bees 
are carrying off the honey as fast as it is gathered. After 
watching such a colony for some days, it occurred to us 
one evening, as it had an unhatched queen, to give it a 
fertile one. On the next morning, rising before the rogues 
were up, we had the pleasure of seeing them meet with 
such a warm reception, that they were glad to make a 
speedy retreat. 
This is another proof that discouragement caused by 
queenlessness often leads to the loss of a colony. 
PREVENTION. 
672. If the Apiarist would guard his bees against dis- 
honest courses, he must be exceedingly careful, in his various 
operations, not to leave any combs or any honey where bees 
can find them, for, after once getting a taste of stolen honey, 
they will hover around him as soon as they see him operating 
on a hive, all ready to pounce upon tt and snatch what they 
can of its exposed treasures. 
