Enemies of Bees — King-Bird, Toads, Mice. 331 



insectivorous, and do immense good by destroying our insect 

 pests. The king bird is tlie only one of them in the United 

 States that deserves censure. Another, tlie chimney swallow 

 of Europe, has the same evil habit. Our chimney swallow 

 has no evil ways. I am sure, from personal observation, 

 that these birds capture and eat the workers, as well as drones ; 

 and I dare say, they would pay no more respect to the finest 

 Italian queen. Yet, in view of the good that these birds do, 

 unless they are far more numerous and troublesome than I 

 have ever observed them to be, I should certainly be slow to 

 recommend the death warrant. 



TOADS. 



The same may be said of the toads, which may often be 

 seen sitting demurely at the entrance of the hives, and lapping 

 up the full-laden bees with the lightning-like movement of 

 their tongues, in a manner which can but be regarded with 

 interest, even by him who suffers loss. Mr. Moon, the well 

 known apiarist, made this an objection to lo,w hives ; yet, the 

 ^ advantage of such hives far more than compensates, and with 

 a bottom-board, such as described in the chapter on hives, we 

 shall find that the toads do very little damage. 



MICE. 



These little pests are a consummate nuisance about the 

 apiary. They enter the hives in winter, mutilate the comb, 

 irritate, perhaps destroy, the bees, and create a very offensive 

 stench. They often greatly injure comb which is outside the 

 hive, destroy smokers, by eating leather off the bellows, and if 

 they get at the seeds of honey plants, they never retreat till 

 they make complete the work of destruction. 



In the house and cellar, unless they are made as they should 

 always be — mouse proof, these plagues should be, by use of 

 cat or trap, completely exterminated. If we winter on the 

 summer stands, the entrance should be so contracted that 

 mice cannot enter the hive. In case of packing as I have 

 recommended, I should prefer a more ample opening, which 

 may be safely secured' by taking a piece of wire cloth or per- 

 forated tin or zinc, and tacking it over the entrance, letting it 

 come within one-fourth of an inch of the bottom-board. Ttis 

 will give more air, and still preclude the entrance of these 

 miserable vermin. 



