FOUNDATION OF A BEE COLONY 31 



ensconced inside. It seems to me most unlikely 

 they would have left a properly prepared hive 

 unless they had already made up their minds 

 where they were going. In this case they 

 certainly appeared to have been pretty positive 

 about it, for it does not often happen that, having 

 been provided with a comfortable location, they 

 will desert it. The queen is no doubt only too 

 thankful to be saved such a troublesome journey 

 as it must be to her. 



The manner in which a swarm enters its new 

 hive is in marked contrast to the style of leaving 

 the old one. The helter-skelter excitement is 

 changed toa most decorous and orderlyprocession. 

 Bee follows bee steadily into the hive and mounts 

 to the roof, in the centre of which the first-comers 

 affix themselves, the others hooking on to them 

 until all are safely in. After a brief rest, comb- 

 building commences. This fascinating operation 

 must be described in a separate chapter. 



