IJ2 THEFTS. 



CHAP. XXIL 



OF THEFTS AND WARS OF BEES. 



T 



H E bees of apiaries are often enemies 

 to each other, and wage deflructive war, 

 compelled thereto by neceffity. 



The robbing season is fooner or later, 

 as the fummer has been more or lefs fa- 

 vourable ; but in general it happens in 

 March and Auguft. That of March is but 

 feldom and triiing : in Auguft very fre- 

 quent and formidable. I once had a flock 

 attacked in this month* and again in Oc- 

 tober. 



When fwarms have been late, but nume- 

 rous, or a bad feafon has followed, it will 

 be a very dangerous time, and make it ne- 

 ceflary to contract all the door-ways, as a 

 caution of fecurity. A few bees will defend 

 a narrow pafs againft a multitude. 



As very bad feafons often occur, which 

 prevent {locks, from procuring fufficient 



honey 



