NATURAL INCREASE 
129 
bulk, powerless in reciprocal embrace, as they hold 
one on to another by the marvellous anguiculi, or 
claws, we have already studied (page 124, Vol. L), 
fall in mass, and are directly under control. Did 
we give them time to recover from their surprise, and 
to disengage themselves, they would commence to 
run up the sides of the skep, and roll over its edge 
like boiling milk in a saucepan ; to prevent this, we, 
as immediately as possible, drop the towel over the 
skep, holding the former in position by its corners. . 
If the spot the swarm is to permanently occupy be 
near, we may walk to it at once or not, as we 
please ; but the next step is, without releasing the 
towel, to slowly turn the skep over, placing one 
edge of it on the stone, and the other on the 
ground. The towel is now allowed to fall to earth, 
its corners being laid flat, so that the bees may not 
get beneath it, but have a convenient platform by 
which to enter their new home. A board may be 
substituted for the towel, or both may be omitted 
should the earth at the spot be fairly smooth and not 
dusty. If, after the subsidence of the temporary com- 
motion produced, we find that the bees are beginning 
to draw near to the hive, flying about the gap between 
it and the towel in a spirit of inquiry, and then enter- 
ing, while those on the bough seem excited and 
bewildered, running hurriedly about, and now and 
again taking a little turn on the wing, we may conclude 
that we have secured the queen, and that, before long, 
all will be comfortably clustered within the hive. We 
shall observe now, on the outside surface of the skep. 
and on the towel, a small army of fanning bees, all 
Vol. II. K 
