MANAGEMENT OF HONEY BEES. 47 
of the flowers, we see them winging their 
eager way toa very considerable distance, in 
a straight undeviating course, and in the 
very teeth of a strong wind, in search of 
those plants which promise an abundant 
honey-harvest. Very striking proofs of the 
acuteness of this sense may be observed 
within the limits of the apiary. Early in 
spring, when the bee-master begins feeding 
his colony, he has reason to marvel at the 
instantaneous notice which this organ gives 
them of his approach. Arriving amongst his 
hives, though from the chillness of a spring 
morning, not a Bee is seen stirring out of 
doors, he has not time to fill the feeding- 
troughs from the vessel in his hand, before 
he is surrounded by hundreds, and in the 
space of five minutes or less, the float-board 
of every trough is covered with a dense mass 
of eager feeders. In feeding a newly-lodged 
swarm, during unfavorable weather in sum- 
mer, it is curious to observe, through the 
glass, the motionless hemispherical mass at 
the ceiling of the hive, becoming instantane- 
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