THE HONBY BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED. 29 



see visitors, and you cannot look in upon tiiem too often, for 

 they expect at every call to receive a sugared treat by way 

 of a peace-offering. The greatest objection to the use of 

 sweetened water, is the eagerness of the bees from other 

 hives, to regale themselves on its contents. When there is 

 any scarcity of honey in the fields, they will often surround 

 the Apiarian, as soon as he presents himself with his water- 

 ing pot, ready to plunge into any hive which he may open, 

 and steal if possible a portion of its treasures. 



A third peculiarity in the nature of the bee, and one which 

 gives an almost unlimited power of control over them, may 

 be expressed as follows : 



Bees, when they ake frightened, immediately begin 

 TO fill themselves with honey from their combs. 



If the Apiarian can only succeed in frightening his little 

 subjects, he will, in a few minutes, make them as peaceable 

 as though they were incapable of stinging. By the use of a 

 little smoke from decaying wood, or punk, as it is often 

 called, the largest and most fiery colony may at once be 

 brought into complete subjection. As soon as the smoke is 

 blown among them, they retreat from before it, raising a sub- 

 dued or terrified note, and at once, as though they imagined 

 that their honey was to be taken from them, they cram their 

 honey-bags to their utmost possible capacity. They act 

 either as though they were aware that all they can lodge in 

 this inside pocket is perfectly safe, or else as though expect- 

 ing to be driven away from their stores, they were deter- 

 mined, as in swarming, to start with a full supply of pro- 

 visions for the way. The same result may be obtained by 

 shutting them up in their hive and then drumming upon it for a 

 short time. The various processes, however, for inducing bees 

 to fill themselves with honey, will be more fully explained 

 in the chapter that treats of the formation of Artificial Swarms. 

 3* 



