Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-13

W Ae1A, osfNa es y
When an open glade near the edge of the
forest is reached, ihe piece Of honeycomb
Is placed on q low bush where it can be
plainly seen by the passing bees. Its
sweet aroma quickly fills the air round I,
and attracts the little honey gathere'
toward il. Like a miser, who has sud
denly discovered q TREASURE uf gold, they
dive down into the little cells and begin
to satiate their appetite. Then, without
suspecting the trap SIT for them, nor
stopping to inquire about the strange
phenomenon Of ~honeycomb growing on q
bush, they dart away through the forest
to deposit their load in the hive.
This is the hunters opportunity. No
ticing the direction in which the bees fly,
they quickly start in pursuit, kee ing the
little creatures in sight with difficulty
Usually an olj experienced bee hunter
takes the lead, and his eagle like eyes can
detect the snail hack speckr in the air
when the otl.,rs have entirely lost sight
OF them. Through dense clusters Of
brambles and over wet and boggy ground
they hurry, completely absorbsd in the
chase, and unmindful Of all disagreeable
surroundings. They have TO make a bee
line through the woods, and not to stop
10 consider whether there is better travel
Ing in another but longer direction.
Even the most expert leaders Of hunt
fng parties viii sometimes lose sight Of
the game, and the bees will escape with
out betraying the locality of their homes.
After wandering about in the woods for
q sufficient time, searching attentively on
every tree for a sign of one of the little
creatures. the leader becomes satisfied
lhat he cannot find the hive without re-
sorting to another trick. A small box
with q glass top is then produced, within
which are a number of bees, which the
hunters have caught round the honey
comb before entering the woods. One Of
these is allowed TO escape from the box
and the direction which it takes immedi
ately followed by the party. A walk o
several minutes is then kept up. the leader
keeping his eyes fixed on n certain tree
which he has marked in the distance.
The others Of the party glance about
them 10 discover signs Of the tree in
which the hive is hidden.
A second bee Is then allowed to escape
from the box. Instead of nving in the
same direction taken by the FIRST one, j,
darts Off to the right and pursues a course
directly opposite TO that adopted by its
mate. ThiI would be misleading TO an
inexperienced hunter, and he would con-
clude naturally that either the bees were
from different hives, oil the old saying
about bees flying directly to their homes
when liberated was all ''bosh."
The leader OF the hunting party, how
evel understands the mute language Of
Che little insects. The party has passed
the tree containing the hive. and a u
ternarch is Immediately ordered. Double
precaution is now taken to locate the ex-
act spot of the hive, and in a very short
time this is done.
But quite frequently it happens that
the hunters when in the immediate
neighborhood of the tree are unable t,
distinguish the right one from the others.
The entrance TO the bee castle is several
feet above the ground, and the eyes %
the hunters are unable to see it unless
attfactel by the bees coming in and out
In numbers. The third step Of the hunt
is then taken, and the leader knows that
this cannot fail. A fire is kindled and a
piece OF ~honeycomb placed upon a warm
stone. In a few minutes the honey be-
gins 10 melt, and the smell from it per.
mea,es the air throughout the forest,
reaching eve the bees in their snug
home. As a result, the whole colony Of
bees begin to swarm out Of their citadel
and ly around the fire from which the
sweet odor arises. Unconsciously they
have disclosed their hiding place, and the
hunters Immediately mark the tree and
prepare for work. The fire is allowed to
burn. and while the bees are busy gath.
ering the wasted sweets the ak begins
to make the echoes ring throughout the
woods. As if still s~uspecting nothing,
the owners Of the hives continue flying
backward and forward, entering and re-
entering their home with their tiny loads
If honey until the great tree begins to
trcmble. a sharp, splitting noise startles
the whole colony from their work, and
before they have time TO ascertain the
cause the huge tree crashes downward,
carrying with it bees, honey and ALL
Independent.