SWARMING AND HIVING. 145 



to the spot, and commenced quietly clustering around her. I 

 have of\en noticed the surprising rapidity with which swarms 

 communicate with each other, while on the wing. Tele- 

 graphic signals are hardly more instantaneous. 



That bees send out scouts to seek a suitable abode, can 

 admit of no serious question. Swarms have been traced to 

 their new home, either in their flight directly from their hive, 

 or from the place where they have clustered ; and it is evi- 

 dent, that in such instances, they have pursued the most 

 direct course. Now this precision of flight to such a 

 " terra incognita," as an unknown home, would plainly be 

 impossible, if some of their number had not previously se- 

 lected the spot, so as to be competent to act as guides to the 

 rest. The sight of bees for distant objects, is wonderfully 

 acute, and after rising to a sufficient elevation, they can see 

 the prominent objects in the vicinity of their intended abode, 

 even although they may be several miles distant. Whether 

 the bees send out their scouts before or after swarming, may 

 admit of more question. In cases where the colony flies 

 without alighting, to its new home, they are unquestionably 

 dispatched before swarming. If this were their usual course, 

 then we should naturally expect all the colonies to take the 

 same speedy departure. Or if, for the convenience of the 

 Queen or any other members of the colony, over fatigued by 

 the excitement of swarming, or for any other reason, they 

 should see fit to cluster, then we should expect that only a 

 transient tarrying would be allowed. Instead of this, they 

 often remain until the next day, and instances of a more pro- 

 tracted delay are not unfrequent. The cases which occur, 

 of bees stopping in their flight, and clustering again on any 

 convenient object, are not inconsistent with this view of the 

 subject ; for if the weather is hot, and the sun shines directly 

 upon them, they will often leave before they have found a 

 13 



