174 THEFTS* 



and aflift to carry their own treafure to their 

 new habitation. But in cafe the queen is 

 protected, they fight on with rage and fury, 

 and death and pillage foon deflroy the flock. 



As foon as ftrange bees are perceived, con- 

 tract the doors to half an inch; and when 

 an attack is actually begun, flop the doors 

 of all the flocks ; taking care that no admif- 

 fion can be had, at any chafms, into the 

 hives, till a little before dark; and then open 

 all the doors, and the thieves will rufh out 

 and fly home, and the true bees, that were 

 excluded, will enter in. 



About an hour after lift the flock up: if it 

 is not heavy j it muft be taken and fet over 

 another flock, by fuming. But if heavy, 

 and not much plundered, take it to a dark 

 out-houfe, and keep it there two or three 

 days confined, with fome admiflion of air. 



Very early in the morning fhut all the 

 doors, and pofl a perfon near the flocks that 

 were mofl likely to be affaulted, with a kind 

 of battledore, of flight wood, in his or her 

 hand, with which to flrike all the bees down 

 that fhall appear, and tread upon them* 

 Continue this /port as long as any approach^ 



and 



