26 o 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
results. The second difficulty could only perplex the 
beginner. Bees constantly play at follow-my-leader, 
for they are to the manner born ; and should a few, 
during the general inquiry for the lost home and lost 
mother, run, as though in the secret, to the side of 
the board, others follow, until quite a contingent 
may form a false cluster {c) under its edge. Left 
to themselves, they by degrees become conscious of 
their mistake, and, after showing some restlessness, 
turn their heads, and go off to join the majority. 
These false clusters never need be suspected of 
containing the queen, if she has been seen to enter 
the skep, for her rude awakening to the fact that 
times are troublous will so well teach her to love 
darkness rather than light, that she will on no account 
leave the skep for the exposed surface of the swarm- 
ing-board. 
If the error of the frightened insects be observed 
in time, shovelling up the stream on to a card, and 
throwing it into the hive opening, will nip the 
nuisance of wrong information in the bud. Some- 
times, the weight of the cluster grows until the hold 
the topmost bees have upon the board is insufficient 
for the weight, and all tumble ; when a stick or lath, 
having one end placed near them, on the ground, 
and the other leaning against the board, will supply 
ladder-way, by which they will quickly regain the 
hive. 
If time presses, we may expedite the entrance of 
the bees by the card and a little smoke, when the 
packing will be accomplished as described on page 
136. The old stock is immediately returned to its 
