52 GUARDING THE TREASURE 



It must be very trying for the proper inhabitants 

 of the hive, who are still doing their best to add 

 to the great mountain of stores, to be challenged 

 by several bees each time they come in, but the 

 colony will take no risks. When there was no 

 difficulty in getting honey, they did not bother 

 very much about a stray pilferer or two, but now 

 any unauthorised person is promptly warned off. 



If the weather is hot, a huge cluster will come 

 and hang outside a populous hive, for the tempera- 

 ture is very high in the limited airspace now left 

 within. The fanners still keep blowing for all 

 they are worth, but they are doubtless grateful 

 when night comes and they can get a little rest. 

 A few bees prowl round in search of sweets, and 

 if there should be a jam factory or sweet- 

 shop handy, a raid will sometimes be made if 

 a colony has still plenty of storage room. 



These robber bees are a very great nuisance. 

 If they once contract the habit, nothing seems 

 to cure them. They will search out weak, badly 

 defended colonies, and endeavour to carry away 

 their stores, and as bees never permit this to occur 

 without fighting for their precious treasure, there 

 are apt to be the most sanguinary battles. The 

 wise bee-keeper will see that the entrance to the 

 hive, especially of a weak colony, is narrowed 

 down until only one or two bees can pass at a time , 

 for if fighting once commences, it is very difficult 

 to stop. Round the entrance to a hive which is 



