EOBBINQ. 
261 
CHAPTER XIII 
BOBBING, AND HOW PEEVENTED. 
Bees are so prone to rob each other, that, unless 
great pi^icautions are used, the Apiarian will often lose 
some of his most promising stocks. Idleness is with 
them, as ivith men, a fruitful mother of mischief. They 
are, 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 
lionest 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 othew. 
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. Ivie bee-keeper, therefore, who ne¬ 
glects to feed his needy colonies, and to assist such as 
are weak or quecnless (p. 221), must count upon sufter- 
ing heavy losses from roober-bees. 
It is sometimes difficuh- for the novice to discriminate 
between the honest inhabi\iants of a hive, and the robbers 
wliich often-mingle with them. There is, however, an air 
of roguery about a thieviiXf; bee which, to the expert, is 
as characteristic as arc the motions of a pickpocket to a 
