BOBBING. 
261 
CHAPTER XIII 
EOBBING, AND 1IOW PREVENTED. 
Bees are so prone to rob each other, that, unless 
great precautions are used, the Apiarian will often lose 
some of his most promising stocks. Idleness is with 
them, as with men, a fruitful mother of mischief. They 
arc, however, far more excusable than the lazy rogues of 
the human family ; for they seldom attempt to live on 
stolen sweets when they can procure a sufficiency by 
honest industry. 
As soon as they can leave their hives in the Spring, if 
urged by the dread of famine, they begin to assail the 
weaker stocks. In this matter, however, the morals of 
our little friends seem to be sadly at fault ; for, often those 
stocks which have the largest surplus are — like some rich 
oppressors — the most anxious to prey upon the meagre 
possessions of others. 
If the marauders, who are ever prowling about in 
search of plunder, attack a strong and healthy colony, 
they are usually glad to escape with their lives from its 
resolute defenders. The bee-keeper, therefore, who ne- 
glects to feed his needy colonies, and to assist such as 
are weak or queenless (p. 221), must count upon suffer- 
ing heavy losses from robber-bees. 
It is sometimes difficult for the novice to discriminate 
between the honest inhabitants of a hive, and the robbers 
which often mingle with them. There is, however, an air 
of roguery about a thieving bee which, to the expert, is 
as characteristic as arc the motions of a pickpocket to a 
