202 THE HIVE AND HOHET-BEE. 



be made Ly boring a Iiole into a block, and covering it 

 vnih wire-gauze, or any perforated cover. The bees will 

 cultivate an acquaintance with the imprisoned "mother, by 

 thrusting their antennae through the openings, and the 

 next day she may be safely given to them. Queens bent 

 on escaping to the woods, may be confined in the same 

 way. A pasteboard box, pierced with holes, answers equally 

 well, or even a match-box, properly scalded. 



If the cage is put with its small openings over one of 

 the holes on the spare honey-board, or set inside of the 

 hive, the bees will )5e as quiet as though the queen had 

 her liberty. Such a cage will be very convenient for any 

 temporary confinement of a queen. 



In catching a queen, she should be gently taken, with 

 the fingers, from among the bees, and if none are crushed, 

 there is no risk of being stung. The queen, although she 

 will not sting, even if roughly handled, will sometimes, 

 when closely confined, Mte the hand of the operator so as 

 to cause a little uneasiness — her jaws, which are intended 

 for gnawing into the base of the royal cells, being larger 

 and stronger than those of a common bee. If she is 

 allowed to fly, she may be loet, by attempting to enter a 

 strange hive. 



As a fertile queen can lay several thousand eggs a day, 

 it is not strange th.at she should quickly become exhausted, 

 if taken from the bees. " JSx nihilo nihil fit " — from 

 nothmg, nothing comes — and the arduous duties of 

 maternity compel her to be an enormous eater. After an 

 absence from the bees of only fifteen minutes, she will 

 solicit honey, when returned ; and if kept away for an 

 hour or upwards, she must either be fed by the Apiarian, 

 or have a few bees, gorged with honey, given to her to 

 sujiply her wants. One which I sent by express, in a 



