168 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
such precautions. While the timid, if unprotected, are al¬ 
most sure to be stung, there is something in the determined 
aspect and movements of a courageous and skillful opera¬ 
tor, that seems often to strike bees with instant terror, so 
that they become perfectly submissive to his will. 
Artificial swarms may be created with perfect safety, 
even at mid-day, as the thousands of bees returning with 
their loads, never make an attack, while those at home can 
be easily pacified. 
The arrangement which permits the top of the movable- 
comb hive to be easily removed, and the sugar-water to 
be sprinkled upon the bees, before they attempt to take 
wing, has great advantages. If the hive opened on the 
side, like Dzierzon’s, it would be impossible to make the 
sweetened water run down between all the ranges of 
comb, and it would be necessary to use smoke* in every 
operation. The use of smoke frequently causes the queen 
to leave the combs, for greater security. This often causes 
great delay in the formation of artificial swarms by 
removing the frames, and in operations where it is de¬ 
sirable to catch the queen, or to examine her upon the 
comb. 
Huber thus speaks of the pacific effect produced upon 
the bees by the use of his leaf-hive : “ On opening the 
hive, no stings are to be dreaded, for one of the most 
singular and valuable properties attending my construc¬ 
tion, is its rendering the bees tractable. I ascribe their 
tranquillity to the manner in which they are affected by 
the sudden admission of light; they appear rather to 
testify fear than anger. Many retire, and entering the 
cells, seem to conceal themselves.” Huber has here fallen 
* After using smoke sometimes two or three times a day, to open a hive upon 
which I was experimenting, I found that, at last, the cunning creatures, instead of 
filling themselves with honey, rushed out to attack me! A colony will ^©ver 
refuse the sweetened water, however often it may be presented to them. 
