1883.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
121 
HOMING BEES IN THE SOUTH. 
Drawn from life {by J. S. Hodgson) and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
in rural districts, both north and south, 
the means are not considered, provided the 
noise is sufficiently loud. If, as shown in 
the engraving, the Southern matron is left 
alone, she does her duty as a solo performer. 
At other times there is a full orchestra with 
pans, tongs, bells, etc., for instruments. 
This “ homing,” “ringing in,” or “tanging ” 
the bees, as it is variously called, is regarded 
as so essential, that to omit it would be 
looked upon as a neglect which would be 
properly punished by the loss of the swarm. 
The fact is, after such a noisy performance, 
the swarms do usually alight a short dis¬ 
tance from the old hive, but intelligent bee¬ 
keepers know that they rarely go far, even 
without a noise, and that they usually clus¬ 
ter upon some spot near by. If, however, 
they have selected a place at a distance, they 
will go to it, in spite of any amount of noise. 
While this custom is slowly disappearing be¬ 
fore an increased knowledge of the bee and 
its habits, it will no doubt long retain a hold 
in some localities, notwithstanding that the 
various investigations of Sir John Lubbock 
argue that bees have no organs of hearing, 
and may be deaf to all such noisy entreaties. 
