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AUSTRALASIAN 
MICE. 
These little pests are sometimes as great a nuisance in the 
apiary as they are in domestic dwellings. They destroy the 
combs, create disgusting smells, and when they gain a footing 
in a hive it usually ends in the destruction of the colony. It 
is a good plan to keep a cat or two about the apiary, especially 
if it should be some distance from the dwelling-house. If the 
hives, however, are made in accordance with the instructions 
given in Chapter VL., it will be almost impossible for these little 
wretches to enter, as the entrance will not be large enough to 
admit them. 
ANTS. 
In some countries ants are the cause of much annoyance to 
bees and bee-keepers. In the warmer parts of the Australian 
colonies some of the larger species are numerous, and there 
they become very troublesome. In South Australia Mr. Bonney 
says, ‘‘In some districts the hives must be protected from them 
‘(the ants), otherwise they would destroy the bees. I find 
Italians protect themselves against ants much better than the 
blacks.” In New South Wales I am informed that “ants are 
sometimes troublesome ;” and Mr. David Gloss, writing from 
Victoria, says he never found or heard of ants being trouble- 
some in the cool districts (Kyneton and Ballarat), but they 
may be in the warm districts. The smaller species, such as I 
have seen in New Zealand, do but little damage; and as it is 
a rare occurrence to find them in hives that are properly man- 
aged, they are scarcely worth taking into consideration. But 
where the larger kinds exist, I would advise the bee-keeper to 
keep a sharp look-out for their nests, and destroy them. When 
in the hive, they usually congregate above the mat in the upper 
part, where they may be swept off and destroyed. 
Some writers recommend placing poisoned saccharine matter 
or meat in vessels well protected from the bees by a covering 
of wire-cloth, and putting these near the hives where the ants 
are numerous. Large numbers may be trapped in this way. 
A narrow strip of fur tacked completely round the under edge 
hint, like everything coming from the same source is worthy of i 
; 1 I t 5 all attention. 
But though in this way we may indeed convert the ceidee, into a friend or 
ally of the bee-keeper, we must continue to class it amongst the ‘‘ enemies of 
bees, and to banish it from the vicinity of working hives. 
