Of the Bees Wars and Robberies. 129 
The eleventh of 4ugu/? 1716. my little daughter came 
runnihg to me, (being in company,) and told «me the 
Bees were fwarming ; but I gueffed them to be robbers, 
which I prefently found true upon entering the garden ; 
where I beheld a dreadful battle, and great numbers 
dead upon the walks, having broke at once into feveral 
hives. Nor was there one ftock or colony left untried, 
tho’ in all about thirty. Here I had employment 
enough. Immediately I flopped up two of them very 
clofe, and by other means, in lefs than an hour, | fecu-_ 
red all the reft, and the robbers difappeared. / 
The end of Fuly 1743, taking a walk to one of my 
apiaries, I no fooner heard the noife of the Bees, but I 
was perfuaded they were employed in theft and rob- 
bery, and prefently found they had violently affaulted 
feventeen hives in another Bee-garden at a {mall dif- 
ftance. Great numbers were broke into one of them, 
and carrying out honey with little or no oppofition, 
which I dire@lly fecured. Upon that, they fell upon 
the two next with the utmoft fury, and in vaft numbers, 
which obliged me to fhut up them alfo, and cover moft 
of the reft. When for the {pace of an hour, or more, | 
I had a very warm encounter with the robbers before I 
could force them to retreat. At night I opened the paf- 
fages, and gave the thieves liberty to return home, 
The next morning they made a frefh and very vigo- 
rous aflault, but Iwas then prepared for them, being 
fure of this fecond vifit; when after another {mart con- 
flict, I gained a compleat viCtory, after which they re- 
turned 
