29

THE HONEY-BEE IN NEW ZEALAND. 27

And now for the act of Swarming.

At some period of the day, from 10 o'clock till 2, an
unusual bustle is seen at the mouth of the hive ; --
single bees rush out in a harried manner, and after
running about for a minute or two on the lighting board,
as though they were looking for something, and perhaps
crawling up the front of the hive, enter in again. All
work seem suspended for a time, at least no fresh
labourers leave the hive to collect honey, although such
as havecompleted their loads keep returning home,
pushing their way through the crowd of loiterers who
are blocking up the door. Now the confusion increases;
keep your eyes fixed on the hive, and you will soon see
a wonderful sight. A stream of live creatures begins to
pour out, increasing in volume until at least it is as wide
as the doorway through which it passes : no longer do
the bees run about in an irregular way, but presses
forward, each in his own place, walking steadily along,
and making a peculiar sound with their wings, which is
heard at no other time. As the bees reach the end of
the lighting board they take wing, and fly backwards
and forwards, wheeling about as in a joyous dance, and
waiting for their mates who are to follow. The stream
has now flowed on for two or three minutes, and is still
as dense as can be. Keep your eyes steadily fixed on
the board, though it may chance to make you dizzy, just
as when you look fixedly on a column of falling water,
and you may perchance to see the queen. There she is :
besides other marks which are not so easily noticed, you
may know her by this -- her body is much longer than
that of the common working bees, and is of a redder
tinge. She turns back as though unwilling to leave the
hive where she has reigned queen ; but she is unable to
stem the torrent of her subjects, which is still rushing
out. She is forced by them along the lighting board,
and at last takes wing. You may still follow her in her
course, for she is heavier in her flight than her subjects :
At last she is lost in the cloud of bees which fill the air ;
and a glorious sight it is. Now give them their swarm-
ing music ; the proper instruments are a warming pan