266 
THE HIVE AND IIONEY-BEE. 
place. Early the next morning they may be examined, 
and, if necessary, united to another stock. 
There is a kind of pillage which is carried on so secretly 
as often to escape all notice. The bees engaged in it do 
not enter in large numbers, no fighting is visible, and the 
labors of the hive appear to be progressing with their 
usual quietness. All the while, however, strange bees are 
carrying off the honey as fast as it is gathered. After 
watching such a colony for some days, it occurred to me, 
one evening, as it had an unhatched queen, to give it a 
fertile, one. On the next morning, rising before the 
rogues were up, I had the pleasure of seeing them meet 
with such a warm reception, that they were glad to make 
a speedy retreat. 
May not the fertile mother give to each hive (p. 203) 
its distinguishing scent ? And may not a hive without 
such a queen be so pleased (p. 226) with the odor ot other 
bees, as to let them do what they will with its stores ? 
As bees are seldom engaged in raising young queens, 
except in the swarming season, when honey is so plenty 
that they are not inclined to rob, this may, if my conjec¬ 
tures are correct, account for the scarcity of this kind of 
pillage. 
hive some intensely powerful and unaccustomed odor. lie effeots this the mosf 
readily by placing in it, in the evening, a small portion of rnmlt, and on the follow¬ 
ing morning the bees, if they have a healthy queen, will boldly meet their 
assailants. These are nonplussed by tho unwonted odor, and, if any of them 
enter the hive and carry off some of tho coveted booty, on thoir return home, 
avlng a strange smell, thoy will be killed by thoir own household. The robbing 
If thus soon brought to a close.”— 9. Wagner. 
* It will usually bo found that a stock which is overpowered by robbors has no 
queen, or one that Ib diseased (p. 244, note). 
