35.4 
one anothers Hives, or where a poor Swarm drove 
from their own Hive want an Houfe, and endeavour 
to get one from another Swarm, they will fight 
fometimes to the Deftruction of both Stocks 3 the 
Cafe of two Swarms uniting, was before confidered, 
-and the Remedy, as far as this Mifchiet admits of 
one, directed, where the hiving of Cafts was {poke 
of : Their Attempts to rob one another hath fome- 
thing in it very fingular, and unlefs great Care be 
taken, are attended with many bad Confequences. 
It is not perfectly or always for want of Honey at 
home, that Bees rob one another ; in Spring fome- 
times, but moft generally in Autumn, when the 
Weather is warm, and little or no Flowers in the 
Field, from whence to gather Honey ; indry Years 
often, in the latter Kind of Augu/f, the ftrongeft and 
moft numerous Stocks find out where Ho- 
ney is, and attempt to get it; they generally attack 
fuch Hives as have feweft Bees, thofe that have o- 
ver-fwarmed, or Cafts, where they judge they may 
‘be moft fuccefsful, and meet the feweft Difficulties 5 
when un Hive is weak in Numbers, it is quickly 
difcovered by other Bees, generally of anorher Co- 
lony, for they chufe to rob abroad, it may be at half 
a Mile’s Diftance ; there’ are Scouts fent from the 
Robbers to examine their Strength and their Trea- 
fure; thefe do not go boldly into the Hive, like 
the true Bees, but pry about, and atrempt to fteal in, 
fometimes by the Top of the Door, creeping in 
from off the Outfide of the Hive; if they get in, and 
find ic for their Purpofe, they come in greater Num- 
bers next Day, and fo encreafe their Numbers daily, 
till they get the better of the true Bees, either by 
driving them out of the Hive, or killing the Queen- 
Bee ; in which latter Cafe the true Bees join with 
the Robbers, and carry off their Honey to the Con- 
querors Hive, leaving ius own deferted. ate 
ra this 
