ROBBING, 387 



It requires some knowledge of the habits of bees, to de- 

 cide from their motions, whether they are flying about a 

 strange hive with some evil intent, or whether they belong 

 to the hive before which they are hovering. A little expe- 

 rience, however, will soon enable us to discriminate between 

 the honest inhabitants of a hive, and the robbers which so 

 often mingle themselves with the crowd. There is an un- 

 mistakable air of roguery about a thieving bee, which 

 to the observing Apiarian, proclaims the nature of his 

 calling, just as truly as the appearance of a pickpocket in a 

 crowd, enables the experienced police officer, to distinguish 

 him from the honest folks, on whom he intends to exercise 

 his skill. 



There is a certain sneaking look about a pilfering bee, 

 almost indescribable, and yet perfectly apparent. He does 

 not alight on the hive, and boldly enter at once, like an hon- 

 est laborer, carrying home his load. If he could only 

 assume the appearance of such transparent honesty, he 

 would often be allowed by the unsuspecting door-keepers, to 

 enter unquestioned, see all the sights within, and help him- 

 self to the sweets of the land. But there is a sort of ner- 

 vous haste, and guilty agitation, in all his movements ; he 

 never alights boldly upon the entrance board, or faces the 

 guards which watch the passage to the hive ; knowing too 

 well that if caught and overhauled by these trusty guardians, 

 his life would hardly be worth insuring ; hence his anxiety 

 to glide in, without touching any of the sentinels. If de- 

 tected by his strange smell, having no pass-word to give, he 

 is very speedily dealt with, according to his just deserts; 

 ■while if he can only effect a secret entrance, those within, 

 taking it for granted that all is right, seldom subject him to a 

 close examination. 



Sometimes bees which have lost their way, are mistaken 

 29 



