16 Natural History of the Honeybee. 



followed. The boy's father, recognizing immediately the state of affairs, called to him 

 hastily (he had often looked on during the catching of a swarm), 'Do not move, Hans. 

 Shut your mouth and eyes, and breathe through your nose. I will sprinkle and capture 

 them! ' The boy obeyed, the father poured water over his head, bent it forward, and 

 with a feather stroked the whole swarm into a basket underneath. The boy had not a 

 single sting. " 



After my own experiences, I consider this tale entirely trustworthy. 



In 1893, i i Studers ill. Schweizer. Bienenf reund, , ' showed the picture of a young bee- 

 keeper who had been photographed with a swarm which hung down from his hand. In 

 the issue of the swarm he caught the queen with his fingers, thus causing the swarm to 

 surround his hand. When the photograph was completed, three-quarters of an hour had 

 elapsed, which was endured very quietly, the arm being supported' with a stick. Head 

 and hands were not stung. Similar pictures have been published in "Gleanings in Bee 

 Culture ' ' during the last few years. 



It is not in contradiction to the above to say that most disasters are caused by swarming 

 bees; for nervous blows or accidental crushing irritates the swarming bees; and first one 

 sting, then hundreds follow, excited by the strong odor of the poison. 



Shortly before the issuing of the swarm, single bees are seen coming out with uneasy 

 motion; they press through the bees around the entrance, which often cling closely together 

 like a long " beard ' '^hanging from the flight-board. It can hardly be doubted that sounds 

 of some kind perhaps serve here for communication — sounds lost to the human ear in 

 the general hum; 51 at least there is no more plausible explanation for the peculiar result, 

 for suddenly the ' ' beard ' ' loosens, the bees enter the hive quickly, assail the honey stores, 

 and fill their honey-sacs. All the others desiring to swarm do the same thing, and sud- 

 denly the swarm breaks forth. Those just returning from the fields heavily laden with 

 pollen are involved in the tumult, infected with the sound of swarming, and fly with 

 the swarm. 



THE INFECTING INFLUENCE OF THE SWARM TONE. 



That the sound made in swarming, which is given only in flight, is infectious is. well 

 known; for now and then it happens that the neighboring colony, though not nearly ready 

 to swarm, will follow the swarm-tone and swing into the air. If two swarms issue at 

 the same time, they mutually attract each other and unite. 



That we have hereto do with a chemical reflex, as is thought by Bethe, who, strangely 

 enough, does not take swarming into consideration, seems improbable to me. If the rich 

 possibilities for sound communication between bees are borne in mind, it is evident that 

 this capacity must have some object, and that it is not practicable to ignore these data. 



THE ENTICING NOTE OF BEES. 



If a swarm is shaken out on a sheet spread over the grass, and a hive never before 

 used is placed, for instance, on the north side of the sheet, it will remain unnoticed if it 

 has not come in direct contact with the swarm. But if a handful is scooped up and 

 thrown at the entrance, they will immediately draw near with specially loud humming, 

 part standing outside, however, on the flight-board with lifted abdomens and wings fan- 

 ning. All the other bees near by turn, if they have been facing away from the hive, and 

 follow the alluring sound, lifting their abdomens and fanning with their wings. More 

 keep following, and a broad band march into the dwelling. If now the hive is taken away 

 and placed on the south side, the bees quickly march on further north, but for only a short 

 time. Then the increase of the attracting note from the south causes a gradual turning 

 of the stream, which enters the hive little by little. It may happen that a little cluster 

 of bees advances firmly northward, although many mates turn toward the south. The 

 alluring tone does not seem to penetrate further; they heard it coming from the north 

 and follow the memory. There seems to be no other explanation for this course. In my 

 opinion the fact that not only a single bee but plenty of them, a small cluster, follows this 



51 Movements of the antennae should certainly be considered, since the play of the antennae is always 

 lively, and often a mutual touching takes place. 



