176 CAUSE OF THE CLUSTERING OF THE BEES. 



crowding out in great numbers, and hurrying to and fro, 

 as if in search of some particular object. 



Implicit confidence however must not be placed on any of 

 these signs; for although they are certainly the prognostics 

 of an approaching swarm, yet they may, and also do happen 

 at other seasons when there is no prospect of a swarm ; the 

 clustering of the bees will for instance take place when the 

 heat of the interior of the hive is too great, or when the 

 bees have not sufficient room in which to work. In regard to 

 the latter circumstance, the cottagers are very apt to be de- 

 ceived, of which we had a very striking proof with some hives, 

 which we intended to purchase at Wimbledon. Tt was in 

 the month of August, and going into the garden of the old 

 woman, we perceived the bees lying out of two of the hives 

 in great clusters and apparently wholly inactive ; under- 

 neath the platform of one of the hives there was a large 

 cluster of bees, on which some were observed to alight with 

 the pellets of farina on their legs. The old woman proceeded 

 to inform us that she had been now watching during three 

 weeks for the swarms, for as the bees were hanging out in 

 such large clusters, no doubt whatever existed that a few 

 days would give her an addition to her apiarian family. We 

 ventured to dissent from the opinion of the old lady, and of 

 course, she was convinced that we knew nothing at all about 

 the matter. We assured her, that her hopes of a swarm 

 were wholly fallacious, as the cause of the clustering of the 

 bees arose solely from the want of room in the hive. She 

 expressed her entire doubt of the truth of our opinion ; but 

 being convinced that the bees which had clustered under 

 the platform were there carrying on their works, we moved 

 a few of the bees, and showed her the combs. She was 

 now convinced; we placed two eeks under the hives, and in 

 less than half an hour, no portion of the cluster of the bees 

 was to be seen. Thus, the old woman in the expectation of 

 her swarms had lost many pounds of honey. 



