Of the Natural Swarming of Bees. 167 
¢ 
_to come off from the mother hive, the mufic of 
the former invites the latter to join them. In 
fuch circumftances, therefore, the moft effectu- 
al method to prevent the jundtion of the two 
fwarms, is to cover the firft {warm completely 
with a large fleet, which will prevent the other 
fwarm from hearing their melody. But if the 
firft {warm be got into a hive, or nearly all en- 
_ tered, it fhould be carried into a houfe, and 
kept there for fome little time, till the fecond 
_ fwarm be fairly fettled fomewhere ; after which 
_ the hive fhould be brought back to its former 
 firuation. But when both fwarms are fmall, 
or but of a medium fize, if they unite volun- 
i  tarily and peaceably together, as they general- 
oly do in fuch cafes, their junction will be ra- 
ther an advantage than a lofs: For it is certain, 
fy 
that 16,000 bees in one hive will collect more 
: 
_ honey and wax than the fame number of bees 
lodged in two different hives could poflibly 
i ~ do*, 
ee 7 CHAP. 
_™* This can be eafily accounted for. In every hive there 
A isa certain number of bees appointed to hatch the young, and to 
' defend the hive from robbers, &c. Now, fuppofing that each 
hive requires 2,000 bees to be daily occupied in thefe employ- 
ments, then it follows, that 16,000 bees, lodged in two different 
Bs hives, muft devote 4,000 of their number to thefe objects, and 
4 leaye 
