Insects. 3767 



on the subject, I will give him mine. The hive in question had pro- 

 bably lost its queen at a time when she could not be easily replaced, 

 in this case the bees would become dispirited and desert the hive, and 

 probably some strong stock finding this out, sent their scouts — cor- 

 sair bees, as that patriarch of apiarians, Dr. Bevan, calls them — to 

 attack the hive in its weak state. I have had many instances of rob- 

 bery, but not exactly similar to that recorded by Mr. Cambridge, for 

 in the cases where so large a collection of honey exists, the resistance 

 of the bees is very fierce, and they do not in general give up without 

 a slaughter of several thousands on each side. 



The extent of these robberies generally agrees with the number of 

 stocks kept in a small compass ; when a country is overstocked, con- 

 tinual robberies will always take place ; and Mr. Butler, in his book 

 entitled the ' Feminine Monarchy/ described them most minutely a 

 hundred years ago. The fact is, that more bees are kept now-a-days 

 than in the time mentioned by the bee-keepers alluded to by Mr. 

 Cambridge. 



I knew an instance of a worthy Kentish baronet, who kept bees 

 and multiplied his stocks, in ten or twelve years, to nearly a hundred, 

 in a bad bee-country too ; in the end he got no honey, as the bees 

 literally " ate each other up," as he termed it. 



The bees which plundered Mr. Cambridge's hive were evidently 

 not the natives of the hive, but most likely hereditary thieves from 

 some stray stock not very far off. 



Desertions most frequently take place in the spring ; it is generally 

 a sort of effort made in despair, and unless the bees overpower some 

 very weak stock they always perish : mouldy or musty combs, occa- 

 sioned by the wet soaking into them, will also cause the bees to 

 desert. I had a fine stock desert a hive on the 4th of April, some 

 years ago ; they had been deprived of full seven-eighths of their 

 combs in the autumn. 



About ten years ago a Bristol newspaper announced a swarm of 

 bees on the 30th of March ! I immediately wrote to the owner to in- 

 quire particulars of this extraordinary event ; he wrote me a polite 

 note, informing me that the announcement of a swarm was a mistake, 

 — that it was a desertion ; and added that the hive in question was 

 examined by a friend and neighbour of his, more conversant in these 

 matters than himself, who found that the combs were completely rid- 

 dled by a small moth, which had caused the bees to desert. 



I have frequently seen the same furious attack made upon a hive 

 containing comb only (in July and August), and no bees or honey, as 



