REMOVING FllAMKS. 199 



a single comb on each frame ; and this is effected by the 

 use of the triangular comb-guides, or better, by comb-foun- 

 dation (074). 



If bees were disposed to fly away from their combs, as 

 soon as they are takcu out, instead of adhering to them 

 ■with sucli remarkable tenacity, it would be far more diflflcult 

 to manage them ; but even if their combs, when removed, 

 are all arranged in a continued line, the bees, and most es- 

 pecially the Itahan bees, instead of leaving them, will 

 stoutly defend them against the thieving propensities of 

 other bees. 



398. In returning the frames, care must be taken not to 

 crush the bees between them and the rabbets on which they 

 rest ; the}' should be put in so slowly, that a bee, on feeling 

 the slightest pressure, may have a chance to creep from un- 

 der them before it is hurt. 



The frames should be returned, as far as possible, in the 

 same position, as they were found, with the brood in the 

 forward part of the hive, and the honey in the back, for 

 bees always live and breed in front of their stores, to more 

 easiljf defend their treasures against intruders. 



In shutting up the hive, the surplus story, if any is there, 

 should be carcfullj- slid on, so that anj' bees which are in 

 the way may be pushed ))eforc it, instead of being crushed. 

 A beginner will find it to his advantage to practice — using 

 an emptjr hive — the directions for opening and shutting 

 hives, and lifting out the frames, until confident that he 

 fully understands them. If any bees are where they would 

 be imprisoned by closing the upper cover, it should be 

 propped up a little, until they have flown to the entrance of 

 the hive, or, they may be brushed away gently. 



it was takea off, they would glne it still faster, so that, at last, it would he 

 well nigh impossihle, in getting it off, not to start the frames so as to crush 

 the beee between the combs. 



