68 
A YEAR AMONG THE BEES. 
lastly to the south end of the back row. All this has taken 
less time than it takes to write it, and the watcher is ready 
to sit down till another five minutes is up. 
If, however, unusual commotion is seen— and, sighting 
along the rows in this way it can easily be seen— the watcher 
goes to the hive for a closer look. Up to the middle of the 
day or later, there is not often much excitement, unless there 
be a swarm ; but after this lime so many colonies take their 
play spells that the watcher needs to spend most of his time 
on his feet. 
The watcher is provided with a number of queen-cages. 
These are easily made and the material costs less than a cent 
apiece. I take a pine block, 5xlxJ4-inch, and wrap around 
it a piece of wire-cloth 4 inches square. The wire-cloth is 
allowed to project at one end of the block a half-inch. The 
four sides of this projecting end are bent down upon the end 
of the stick and hammered down tight into place. A piece 
of fine wire about 10 inches long is wrapped around the wire- 
cloth, about an inch from the open end, which will be about 
the middle of the stick, and the ends of the wire twisted 
together. I then pull out the block, trim off the corners of 
the end a little so that it will easily enter the cage, slide the 
stick in and out of the cage a number of times so that it will 
work easily, and the thing is complete. When not in use 
the block is pushed clear in, so as to preserve the shape of 
the cage. Such cages can be carried in the pocket without 
danger of being injured. 
When the watcher finds a swarm issuing, he is pretty dull 
if he does not become interested in looking for the queen. 
I do not know of any sure way to lind the queen, but she is 
not often missed. I think I can find her most easily by 
watching on the ground in front of the entrance. Very fre- 
quently she comes out at the back end of the hive at the 
place left for ventilation. Itarely she may be found at some 
distance from the hive, on the ground, with a group of bees 
about her. If not found, she is most likely in the hive, and 
the swarm may re-issue in a day or two. She may be lost, 
