284 miner's AMERICAN 



as a matter of course, since four fold the number of old 

 ones existing, are produced every spring. 



SWARMS ISSUING HAVE NO HABITATION SELECTED. 



Much has been said in regard to bees selecting a habi- 

 tation before issuing from the hive. It is supposed by 

 many persons, that previous to a swarm issuing, an em- 

 bassy is sent to the forest to select some hollow tree or 

 other tenement in which to reside. That such cases 

 sometimes do take place, I have no doubt, bui that a 

 selection is made in every case, is not a fact. I think 

 that the attention paid to the wants of the bees by their 

 owner, as before alluded to, has something to do with 

 this matter; since it appears that they who pay no re- 

 gard to their bees, at any season, lose swarms very fre- 

 quently, while they who are constantly paying the little 

 attentions to them that good management demands, 

 seldom lose any. 



I have often observed single bees, during the season 

 of swarming, entering the knot holes of my stable, sing- 

 ing a merry song, and carefully examining them for no 

 other purpose, I presume, than to find a domicil for some 

 swarm soon to issue. It appears natural in the bee to 

 send out scouts in this manner, and where a forest is 

 very near, filled with hollow, decayed trees, the securing 

 of swarms is attended with much more trouble than in 

 other situations. It often happens, that a hole in some 

 old building is secured by them for a tenement. A lady 

 of my acquaintance, who is very fond of attending to 

 bees, informs me that on a certain occasion, a swann 



