THE HONEY-BEE IN NEW ZEALAND. 47 
Many of them at the Bay of Islands and other 
districts are already tenanted by bees, and honey in 
considerable quantities is constantly being brought in 
by the maories for sale ; and they will learn to track the 
bees to their home after the American fashion, which is 
this : Put a piece of honey comb in an open space in the 
woods as a bait to the bees, who are soon attracted to it 
if their hive is within a reasonable distance. They gorge 
themselves, and then their instinct leads them to make 
the best of their way homewards. The direction of their 
flight is accurately marked ; the same operation is per¬ 
formed in another place at right angles to the line of the 
first bees’ flight, and the intersection of these two lines 
leads the hunter to his prize. Another plan is to catch 
the bee while feeding on the bait, and with a little gum 
attach a small piece of swan’s down or feather to its 
body, which, without materially impeding its flight, 
makes its course through the air more easily observed. 
By hook or by crook the maories find the wild bees 
readily enough, as the woods in many places are full of 
them. 
TJnitirig or Driving Hives or Stocks. 
The union of hives is a branch of the craft which does 
not so much belong to the young bee master as to those 
who are in possession of a fully stocked apiary, but when 
two swarms which have risen on the same day, and 
which you intend to unite, are each safely hived, leave 
them for the evening near the place where they lighted, 
remembering to screen them well from the direct rays of 
the sun ; for, the action of the direct rays of the sun is 
the usual cause which makes swarms run away after 
they are safely hived. After sundown the same evening 
spread a cloth on the ground, near where the hive stands 
which you wish to double ; then take the other steadily 
in your hands away from its bottom board, and strike it 
with a smart blow upon the cloth; this will knock all 
the bees out in a mass; they will not take wing, but will 
remain lying on the cloth whilst you steadily and care¬ 
fully place the other hive over them. Three or four 
pieces of wood must previously be placed on the floor 
