IGNORANCE OF BEH-KKKl'ERS. 195 



safely imitated by experts, who, by securing the queen, can 

 nialve the bees hang in large lestoons from their chin, with- 

 out incurring any risk of being taken by the beard. 



" Such was the spell, vUicli round a Wildman's arm, 

 Twin'd in dark wreaths the fascinated swarm; 

 Bright o'er his hreast the glittering legions led, 

 Or with a living garland bound his head. 

 His dextrous hand, with lirm yet hurtless hold, 

 Could seize the chief, Ivuown by her scales of gold. 

 Prune 'mid the wondering train lier filmy wing. 

 Or o'er her folds the silken fetter fling." 



394. The ignorance of most bee-keepers of the almost un- 

 limited control which may he peaceably acquired over bees, 

 has ever been regarded by the author of this treatise as the 

 greatest obstacle to the speedy introduction oj movable-fraTne 

 hives. Such ignorance has led to the invention of costly 

 and complicated hives, all the ingenuity and expense lav- 

 ished upon which, are known, by the better informed, to be 

 as unnecessary as a costly machine for lifting u{) bread and 

 butter, and gently pushing it into the mouth and down the 

 throat of an active and healthy child. 



We have before us a small pamphlet, published in Lon- 

 don in 1851, describing the construction of the "Bar and 

 Frame Hive" of W. A. Munn, Esq. The object of this in- 

 vention is to elevate frames, one at a time, into a case with 

 glass sides, so that they may be examined without risk of 

 annoyance from the bees. Great ingenuity is exhibited by 

 the inventor of this very costly and very complicated hive, 

 who seems to imagine that smoke " must be injurious both 

 to the bees and their brood." 



395. In opening a hive, little danger may be feared 

 from the bees that are exposed to the light, unless quick 

 motions are made, as they are completely bewildered by 

 their sudden exposure, and removal from the hive. 



It is not merely the sudden admission of light,' but its 

 introduction from an unexpected quarter, that for the time, 



