260 QUEEN EEAEING. 



We once removed the queen of a small colony, the bees 

 of which took wing and filled the air, in search of her. 

 Although she was returned in a few minutes, royal-cells 

 were found two days later. The queen was unhurt, and 

 the cells untenanted. Was this work begun by some that 

 did not believe the others, when assured that she was safe? 

 or from the apprehension that she might be removed again ? 



607. As soon as the bees begin to fly briskly in the 

 Spring, a colony which does not industriously gather pollen, 

 *or accept of flour (267), is almost certain to have no 

 queen, or one that is not fertile — unless it is on the eve of 

 perishing from starvation. 



A colony is sure to be queenless, if, after taking its 

 first Spring-flight, the bees, by roaming, in an enquiring 

 manner in and out of the hive show that some great calamity 

 has befallen them. Those that come from the fields, instead 

 of entering the hive with that dispatchf ul haste so character- 

 istic of a bee returning, well loaded, to a prosperous home, 

 usually linger about the entrance with an idle and dissat- 

 isfied appearance, and the colony is restless, late in the day, 

 when others are quiet. Their home, like that of a man 

 who is cursed in his domestic relations, is a melancholy 

 place, and they enter it only with reluctant and slow-mov- 

 ing steps. 



608. And here, if permitted to address a word of friendly 

 advice, we would say to every wife — Do all that you can to 

 make your husband's home a place of attraction. When 

 absent from it, let his heart glow at the thought of return- 

 ing to its dear enjoyments ; as he approaches it, let his 

 countenance involuntarily assume a more cheerful expres- 



*' ' Mr. Randolph Peters, of Philadelphia, had a colony which he was satis- 

 fied was qneenleas, as the bees did not cany in pollen for 28 days. Iputaqueen 

 into the hive, he holding a watch in his hand, andiu .SX minntes from the time 

 she was introduced, a hee was seen to enter with pollen on her legs! We both 

 observed the entrance for soma time, and saw many bees cany in pollen." — 



F. J. liAHAN. 



