ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 
207 
and the other to die ! The battle was fierce ancl sanguinary. 
They grappled each other, and, like expert wrestlers, 
strove to infiict the fatal blow by some sudden or adroit 
movement. But for some moments the parties seemed 
equally matched ; no advantage could be gained on either 
side. The bees stood looking calmly on the dreadful 
affray, as though they themselves had been the heroes of 
a hundred wars. But the battle, like all others, had its 
close ; one fell upon the field, and was immediately taken 
by the workers and carried out of the hive. By this time, 
the bees which had swarmed made the discovery that their 
queen was missing, and although they had been hived 
without any trouble, came rushing back, but not in season 
to witness the fatal battle, and the fall of their poor slain 
queen, who should have gone forth with them to seek a 
future home.’ ”* 
The Apiarian has already been reminded of the import- 
ance of securing straight worker-combs for his stocks. 
To a stock-hive, such combs are like cash capital to a 
business man ; and so long as they are fit for use, they 
should never be destroyed (p. 60) .f Those who have 
plenty of good worker-comb, will unquestionably find it 
to their advantage to use it in the place of the artificial 
guides (PI. I., Fig. 2, w).% Those who use the guides, 
* “ We introduced a queen into a hive,” says Iluber, 14 after painting her thorax, 
to distinguish her from the reigning queon. A circlo of bees formed so closeiy 
around the stranger, that in scarcely a minute sho lost her liberty. Other workers 
a* the snmo time collected around the reigning queon, and restrained her motions. 
* * * They retained their prisoners only when they appeared to withdraw from 
each other; and if one, loss restrained, seemed desirous of approaching her rival, 
all the bees forming tho clusters gave way, to allow her full liberty of attack ; thon, 
if they showed a disposition to fly, thoy returned to Inclose them.” 
t Mr. 8. Wagner has a colony over 21 years old, whoso young bees appear to bo 
as largo ns any others in his Apiary. 
X See Explanation of Plates of Hives, for a description of the various styles of 
movable frames 
