300 
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
its seductive stores will not only attract the bees who are intended to be 
its legitimate occupants, but also wasps, hornets, and robber-bees of all 
descriptions, so that the swarm will have to inaugurate their entrance 
by a battle. 
2. Bees always will settle themselves as soon as possible after swarm- 
ing, and if they have not already determined upon a new habitation, will 
fix themselves in the first place that they think will suit them. There 
are many instances known of bees having swarmed unexpectedly, and 
after escaping from their former owners, having made their habitation in 
a hollow tree in a wood, or in the roof of some deserted hovel. There 
have been several instances of bees choosing to make their nests in the 
roof or tower of a church, and an instance came very recently under the 
writer’s notice. For several years the congregation had been consider- 
ably annoyed by the presence of bees during the service, but had made 
no particular endeavors to rid themselves of the plague. One summer, 
however, brought with it such an increase of bees that it was deemed 
necessary to institute an inquiry; for the winged intruders came in such 
numbers, and buzzed about so loudly, and frightened the juvenile portion 
of the congregation to such a degree, that the service could not proceed 
with any comfort. After some search, a hole was discovered in the 
roof of the church, through which the bees were constantly passing. 
This was accordingly stopped up, and the workmen retired, congratu- 
lating themselves on getting rid of their winged enemies so easily. They 
were, however, quite mistaken, for the bees descended in undiminished 
numbers. The roof was again examined, and found to be in such bad 
repair, that the colony of bees who had taken up their residence be- 
tween the roof and the leads had found numerous openings, which 
they had enlarged for their own purposes. How to eject this formidable 
band was now the subject of deep consultation. Sulphur-smoke would 
not answer, because it would soon pass out through the apertures in the 
roof, and besides, there was a very prevalent alarm lest the church should 
be set on fire. At last a veteran apiarian was sent for trom the next 
village. He immediately planted a ladder against the exterior wall, and 
examined the stones until he discovered the entrance to the bees’ habi- 
tation. It was a mere fissure between two stones, where some of the 
mortar had fallen out, and the remainder been extracted by the bees 
for their own convenience. After surveying the prospect for some time, 
he declared that a stone must be taken out of the wall before the bees 
could be dislodged, and immediately began to loosen the stone which 
had already been partly deprived of its mortar. The bees, of course, 
were highly indignant at such an assault, but the man coolly proceeded 
with his work, not heeding their anger in the least. When the stone 
had been completely loosened, he laid by the crowbar, and deliberately 
pulled it out with his hands. Out rushed a perfect cloud of bees full 
in his face ; but he quietly laid the stone down, and contented himself 
with brushing them oft' his face until he had made further investigations. 
All the spectators took to flight at the first appearance of the enraged 
bees ; but their imperturbable enemy remained quietly at his post, and 
after descending the ladder pulled some eight or ten bees out of his 
hair, and remarked that they had not stung him so much as he expected. 
