90 
BEE-CULTURE. 
deprived of her they manifest the greatest sorrow and anxiety 
for her recovery ; yet, on hastily returning her an hour or 
more after, I have seen them, in some cases, instantly sting 
her to death. The cause of this singular and most unnatural 
treatment was for some time a mystery ; but after repeated 
experiments I became convinced that it was owing greatly to 
the manner of presentation, and the temper of the recipients 
when she was presented, Subsequent experiments have con- 
firmed this opinion. The worker bee is exceedingly watch- 
ful and impulsive. The slightest quick movement arouses 
and excites it for an attack ; and if, when in this condition, 
one of its own sister workers alights suddenly near it she is 
liable to be seized, and I have sometimes seen her stung to 
death before the mistake was discovered. Once excited to 
combat, they seem completely abandoned to the destruction 
of the object of their attack ; and although they quickly re- 
cognize the scent of a queen, yet, under the impulse of angry 
excitement, they do not often stop short of her destruction. 
The knowledge of these facts has led to the adoption of various 
expedients for the safe introduction of queens. The first, 
and probably safest, mode which I shall describe is as fol- 
lows : In the morning of a pleasant day, when the bees are 
flying freely, take from one of the most populous hives four 
or five combs containing honey and nearly mature brood. 
Shake from them, into their own hive, the old or hatched 
bees, and hang the combs properly into an empty hive, which 
should then be carefully closed so as to prevent the escape of 
the Italian queen, which should then be placed in it. After 
removing tho before-mentioned populous colony from its 
stand to another at some distance, place the hive containing 
the Italian queen on the stand from which the other was re- 
moved, and partially open its entrance. The bees which 
have been out gathering honey, on returning to the accustom- 
ed spot, will enter the hive containing the Italian queen. 
Gorged with honey, exhausted by the fatigue of a long flight, 
disconcerted by the apparent desertion which has taken place 
during their absence, and not knowing where to find their 
original hive, they will at once adopt the new home and 
queen. ” 
“ If this operation is performed between the first of May 
and the middle of June, by filling the empty space left in 
both hives with empty frames, two colonics may be formed of 
