PRtMARV SWARM. 223 



ration of two Colonies in one hive. By hiving, in a large 

 box, swarms whioli liavo settled together, and leaving tlu'iii 

 undisturbed till the following morning, they would some- 

 times be found in separate clusters, and might easily be put 

 into different hives. 



If the Apiarist fears that another swarm will issue, to 

 unite with the one he is hiving, he may cover the latter from 

 the sight of other swarms, with a sheet. 



438. If, while hiving a swarm, he wishes to secure the 

 queen, the bees should be shaken from the hiving-basket, a 

 foot or more from the hive, when a quick eye will generally 

 see her as she passes over the sheet. If the bees are reluc- 

 tant to go in, a few must be directed to the entrance, and 

 care be taken to brush them back, when they press forward 

 in such dense masses that the queen is likely to enter unob- 

 served. An experienced eye readily detects her pecuhar 

 color and form (100). 



It is interesting to witness how speedily a queen passes 

 into the hive, as soon as she recognizes the joyful note (76) 

 announcing that her colony has found a home. She quickly 

 follows in the direction of the moving mass, and her long 

 legs enable her easily to outstrip, in the race for possession, 

 all who attempt to follow her. Other bees linger around 

 the entrance, or fly into the air, or collect in listless knots 

 on the sheet ; but a fertile mother, with an air of conscious 

 importance, marches straight forward, and looking neither 

 to the right hand nor to the left, glides into the hive with 

 the same dispatehful haste that characterizes a bee return- 

 ing fully laden from the nectar-bearing fields. 



439. Swarms sometimes come off when no suitable hives 

 are in readiness to receive them. In such an emergency, 

 hive them in any old box, cask, or measure, and place 

 them, with suitable protection against the sun, where their 

 new hive is to stand ; when this is ready, they may, by a 

 quick, jerking motion, be easily shaken out before it, on a 

 hiving-sheet. 



