300 THE APIAKT. 



If the queen is not with the bees, a few will come out and 

 run about, as if anxiously searching for something they 

 have lost. The alarm is rapidly communicated to the whole 

 colony ; the explorers are reinforced, the ventilators sus- 

 pend their operations, and soon the air is filled with bees. 

 If they cannot find the queen, they return to their old stand, 

 and if no hive is there, will soon enter one of the adjoining 

 colonies. If their queen is restored to them soon after they 

 miss her, those running out of the hive will malie a half-cir- 

 cle, and return; the joyful news is quickly communicated 

 to those on the wing, who forthwith alight and enter the 

 hive ; all appearance of agitated running about on the out- 

 side of the hive ceases, and ventilation, with its joyful hum, 

 is again resumed.* 



If the queen has not left the old hive, it is safer to return 

 the bees and to resume the driving at another time. 



578. To transfer the comb, have on hand tools for pry- 

 ing off a side of the hive ; a large knife for cutting out the 

 combs ; vessels for the honey ; a table or board, on which 

 to lay the brood combs ; and water for washing off, from 

 time to time, the honey which will stick to your hands. 



Have also a number of pieces of wire, No. 16, cut a little 

 longer than the frame, and bent on the ends in this shape 



I 1 to be driven into the wood of the frame, and to hold 



the combs in place. Let a certain number of frames be in 

 readiness, with three or four of these wires fastened on one 

 side, and lay them on the table, wire-side down. You must 

 also have your movable frame hive in readiness liear the 

 table, with an extracting pan (770) under it, instead of a 

 bottom board, to receive what honey may drip. All this 

 must be ready before disturbing the bees. 



679. Having selected the worker-combs, carefully cut 



• To witness these Interesting proceedings, it is only necessary to catcli the 

 iineen. and keep hex until she is missed by her colony. For greater BecDiity, 

 Bhe should be confined in a queen cage (536) during the experiment. 



