THE HONEY-BEE CAPABLE OF BEING TAMED. 27 
bees are gently sprinkled with water sweetened with 
sugar, they will help themselves with great eagerness, 
and in a few moments will be perfectly under control. 
The truth is, that bees thus managed are always glad to 
sec visitors, for they expect at every call to receive an 
acceptable peace-offering. The greatest objection to the 
use of sweetened water is, the greediness of bees from 
other hives, who, when there is any scarcity of honey in 
the fields, will often surround the Apiarian as soon as he 
presents himself with his watering-pot, and attempt to 
force their way into any hive he may open, to steal if 
possible a portion of its treasures. 
A third peculiarity in the nature of bees gives an al¬ 
most unlimited control over them, and may be expressed 
as follows: 
Bees when frightened immediately begin to fill them- 
selves with honey from their combs. 
If the Apiarian only succeeds in frightening his little 
subjects, he can make them as peaceable as though they 
were incapable of stinging. By the use of a little smoke 
from decayed wood,* the largest and most fiery colony 
may at once be brought into complete subjection. As 
soon as the smoke is blown among them, they retreat 
from before it, raising a subdued or terrified note ; and, 
seeming to imagine that their honey is to be taken from 
them, they cram their honey-bags to their utmost capac¬ 
ity. They act either as if aware that only what they 
can lodge in this inside pocket is safe, or, as if expecting 
to be driven away from their stores, they are determined 
to start with a full supply of provisions for the way. The 
same result may be obtained by shutting them up in their 
* Such wood is ofton called spunk, or touch-wood ; it burns without any flamo 
until consumed ; and its smoko may easily bo directed upon tho bees, by 
breath of tho Apiarian. 
