112 
to suffer in this way than strong ones, yet it sometimes 
happens that strong stocks are attacked by robbers. 
We have now two important points to consider. 
First. Are they robbing ? and if so, how to deter- 
mine the fact. When bees are robbing some unusual 
agitation about the hive being robbed is always observ- 
able, such as bees running backwards and forwards in 
front of the hive, two or three bees attacking one and 
dragging him off the platform, and an unusual num- 
ber of bees flying in front of the hive. These are 
strong symptoms of robbery. 
Second. Are they your own or foreign bees? To 
ascertain this fact, take some flour and sprinkle on 
their backs as they are passing out and in, then go to 
your other hives and see if any of the white backs 
enter ; if they do they are the robbers. You do not 
care about catching your own bees, but you must break 
up the robbery : first, close up the entrance of the hive 
being robbed, so that but a single bee can pass out and 
in at a time, then take the fumigation pipe and fumi- 
gate the robbers in their own hive thoroughly ; this will 
give them plenty of business to attend to at home, and 
they will stop for the time, and if they commence again, 
fumigate them as before two or three times, which will 
usually stop them entirely. But if they are foreign 
bees then you must pursue another course. Should 
none of these white backs enter your hives, then it is 
quite positive they are your neighbor’s bees, or wild 
bees from a tree. You must now play bee-hunter with 
them ; lie flat upon your back near to the hive and 
watch them, and see which way they go ; should they 
go in the direction of your neighbors you had better go 
and examine some of them ; if you find they enter there, 
