32 
AN EASY METHOD OF 
RULE IV. 
ON PREVENTING ROBBERIES. 
At the moment it is observed that robbers 
are within, or about the hive, raise the bottom 
board so near the edge of the hive as to pre- 
vent the ingress or egress of the bees, and stop 
the mouth or common entrance and ventilator. 
At the same time, take care that a small 
space on all sides of the hive be left open, so 
as to afford them all the air they need. Open 
the mouth only at evening to let out the rob- 
bers, and close early in the morning, before 
they renew their attack. 
REMARKS. 
Bees have a peculiar propensity to rob each 
other, and every precaution neccssaiy to pre- 
vent it should be exercised by the cultivator. 
Families in the same apiary are more likely 
to engage in this unlawful enterprize than any 
others, probably because they are located so 
near each other, and are more likely to learn 
their comparative strength. I never could 
discover any intimacy between colonics of the 
same apiary, except when they stood on the 
same bench; and then, all the social inter- 
course seems to subsist between the nearest 
neighbors only. 
