28 THE HISTORY OF BEES. 
turned no more in that hoftile manner. That ftock 
which fuffered moft is now fafe, and in all probability 
will profper. 
Hence may the reader take diretion how to actin 
fimilar cafes: inftantly ftop up fuch hives till evening; 
then difcharge the ftrangers.. Keep the ftock clofe fhut 
up the next day, which will give you a fair opportunity 
of engaging the robbers by themfelves, and effe&tually 
prevent further attempts. Yet provided they fhould af> 
terwards return, when your doors are again: fet open, 
difturb the true Bees by a bunch of flinking madder faf= 
tened to the end of a little ftick of a convenient length, 
till they begin to fhew their refentment ; then will you 
fee them feize the robbing Bees, and tumble them down 
in the greateft wrath; fo that you may afluredly infer 
their fafety. They will beft defend themfelves. But 
at the time you are thus employed, it is needlefs to 
give you a Caution to take care of yourfelves. But 
fhould your hives thus attacked have but a few Bees, 
and little honey, it is better to take them, than fland a 
trial, 
I never loft. any ftocks by the robbers but once, which 
was occafioned purely by my abfence ; paying a vifit at 
Woodflock, at my return I found two hives in a manner 
ruined, and took what little honey was left in them. 
I have at other times been a witnefs of fatal battles, 
of more than two days continuance, occafioned bya 
firange {warm forcing their way into a fingle hive or 
colony. » 
Alfo 
