250 
THE niVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
and thus force her to pass over a space which, by continually 
narrowing, is more and more easily defended by the bees. 
These traps are slightly elevated, so that the heat and 
smell of the hive pass under them through small open- 
ings, into which the moth can enter, but which do not 
admit her to the hive. These openings, which resemble 
the crevices between the common hives and their bottom- 
boards, she will enter, rather than attempt to force her 
way through the guards ; and, finding here the nibblings 
of comb and bee-bread, in which her young can flourish, 
she deposits her eggs where they may be reached and 
destroyed. All this is on the supposition that the hive 
has a healthy queen, and that the bees have no more 
comb than they can warm and defend ; for if there is no 
guard, or only a feeble resistance, she will penetrate to 
the heart of the citadel to deposit her seeds of mischief. 
These blocks have also grooves which communicate 
with the interior of the hives, and which appear to the 
prowling worm, in search of a comfortable nest, the very 
place — so warm and secure — in which to spin its web, 
and “ bide its time.” When the hand of the bee-master 
lights upon it, it finds that it has been caught in its own 
craftiness. 
All such contrivances, instead of helping the careless 
bee-keeper, will but give him greater facilities for injuring 
iiis bees. Worms will spin undisturbed under the blocks, 
and moths lay their eggs ; his traps only affording them 
more effectual aid. If such incorrigibly careless persons 
will persist in the folly of keeping bees, they should use 
only smooth blocks, which, by regulating the entrance 
to the hives, will assist the bees in defending themselves 
against all enemies which seek admission to their castle.* 
* In Plato V., Fig. 1C, a small entraneo Is shown In front of the hives above the 
frames. If the lower one Is closed, and the bees of a feeble colony uro allowed to 
