82 SWARMS* 



in the fprmg^ are not aware that thereby 

 they are deftroying the only means of in- 

 creafe; for the drones are to bees what males 

 are to other creatures. But if it mould be 

 obferved that the drones in fummer are fo 

 abundant, efpecially of a weak (lock, as 

 nearly to confume the honey as faft as ga- 

 thered ; in this cafe, and this only, fome of 

 them may be deftroyed. 



Many fchemes have been tried for dimi- 

 nishing the drones, but with little fuecefs. 

 For if they are flopped from entering their 

 own hive, they know their next neighbours 

 will gladly receive them : nor will traps 

 fufficiently deftroy them; and their appli- 

 cation greatly difturbs and hinders the work- 

 ers of not only their own hive, but alfo of 

 others. 



More may be killed on the alighting board 

 in a fhort time by the end of a cafe knife,, 

 than by any other means ; and if done lei- 

 furely, the workers will not refent it for a 

 while. When they do, retreat, and try again 

 fome little time after. If continued long, the 

 workers will be fo difturbed as to enter other 

 hives, and the whole apiary be alarmed. If 



the 



