COMPARATIVE WEIGHT OF SWARMS. 199 



have always observed that for two or three days subsequently 

 to the swarming, several bees are to be seen hovering near 

 the spot on which the swarm first alighted. We have even 

 seen them cluster, but at night, they invariably disappeared. 



The most certain method of discovering the value of a 

 swarm is by its weight, although it is still asserted by many 

 that the size is a true criterion. The latter opinion is, how- 

 ever, erroneous, for the size of a swarm depends in a great 

 measure on the temperature of the air ; if it be very hot, the 

 bees will extend themselves in order to admit a greater in- 

 flux of air between them, whilst, on the other hand, if it be 

 cold, they will crowd together to increase the heat by 

 reciprocal action. The weight is therefore the best criterion; 

 and this can be effected by first weighing the hive when 

 empty, and then again immediately after the swarm has been 

 put into it. A weak swarm weighs from one to two pounds, 

 the middling ones from three to four pounds ; the good ones 

 about five pounds, and the excellent ones from six to eight. 

 Reaumur speaks of swarms of twelve and fourteen pounds ; 

 Chaptal estimates a good swarm at ten pounds, Feburier at 

 eleven, Dezilles at ten, Lombard at fifteen, and Ducouedic 

 at fourteen ; whilst amongst the English apiarians, Bonner 

 calculates a good swarm to weigh six pounds, Wildman 

 estimates it at eight, Keys at seven, Espinasse at five, and 

 Thorley at six. Thus the mean weight of the French swarms 

 is eleven, whilst that of the English is only six. We cannot 

 account for this difference in any other manner than the 

 superiority of the climate, for the French hives are not more 

 capacious than the English, nor does the size of a swarm de- 

 pend in any degree on the space in which the bees breed, as 

 can be proved by those swarms which issue from the trunks 

 of trees, or the roofs of houses, where the space in which 

 they work is unlimited. 



In regard to the second swarms or casts, the difficulty of 

 ascertaining the precise time of their departure is very great, 



