432 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
be imagined, most frequently by far in early spring; 
for it is presumable, that at this part of the year .bees 
are least conversant with the exact position of their 
own entrance. Careful watching of this phenomenon 
has thoroughly convinced the Author that the trouble 
is at least frequently commenced by an assault made 
by one or two aliens^ which causes the queen's own 
children, under a misapprehension, to follow suit, until 
all the colony is in the same condition of ferment as 
though a strange queen had been dropped amongst 
them. Bees, as social creatures, can only act in 
concert because they can give and receive information 
from one another, and they are liable to be made the 
victims of a mistake which, under general excitement, 
cannot be rectified (see page 260). They all, in the 
circumstances supposed, believe that a strange queen 
is in their midst; and then freeing her from her 
antagonists, and putting her on to another frame, does 
not mend matters, for the hissing multitude no longer 
recognises its own mother, whom they are quite likely, 
if unrestrained, to hug to death. We have, no doubt, 
before us the reason why many colonies turn up 
queenless in the spring. Repeated and unseasonable 
examination tends to beget the evil, which can only 
be met completely by re-introducing the queen in her 
own stock, either by caging, or — as I should distinctly 
prefer — by removing with a few young bees, and re- 
inserting at night, as explained at page 345. 
Uniting — the name given to the joining of two 
or more colonies — is usually both simple and safe; 
yet occasionally obstinate cases occur, which may 
land even the experienced in disappointment. In the 
