Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-19
HUNTING THE BEE.
now THE LITTLE HONEYGATH-
ERER is, CAPTURED.

READING.
The bee hunter is burdened with
bat few implements in his chase.
First, there is the "bee box" which
is six inches or 80 IN hight and
little less in width and length, with
a hinged lid IN which is set small
square glass; mid dway between
this glass and the bottom is slide
dividing the box into two cOmpart.
ments, the lower one holding
piece Of bOneycomb partly filled
when in use with thin syrup Of
white sugar and water. The next
implement is an AK, or perhaps, no
larger cutting tool than a jackknife.
Some also carry a compass. So
equipped the hunter of bees takes
the field, seeking his small quarry
along wocdside meadow fences,
whose stakes and tOp-rals alone
show above a howery taDgle of
pOlden rod, asters and willow
herbs in pastures that border the
woods, dotted with these and
thOrny clumps of bull thistles aud
the dark green sedge aud wild
grass of the swales, Overtopped by
dull white blossoms, pierced by
clustered purple spikes of vervsin,
and here and there ablaze with the
fire of the cardinal flower.
Carefully Looking over the how-
ers as he goes slowly along among
the bumblebees and wasps that
are gathering from them their
stores or presen, food, his quick
eye discovers honey bee alight
on the upright tassel Of the thistle.
or sucking meGicated sweet from
the bitter flower of the bone
set, or exploring clustering OF
asters, with balsm or golden rod
Quickly and softly the little box is
slipped under the unsusplcious
worker, the cover clapped down
and the busy bee is prisoner. The
box is dsrkened a little by putting
the hand over the glass slide until
the bees wrath and fright has been
buzzed away and it settles on the
bit OF comb previously placed on
the slide. The box is then set on
stump or convenient elevated
position, the lid opened and the
bees exit patiently awaited.
This takes place in Ave minutes
or so, when having freighted, 1T
takes wing and rises a few feet,
circles rapidly till 1t has its bear
ings, and then sails swiftly home
ward. What compass does it carry
in the little head to guide the way
so trulyl The hunter takes no
great pains to get the course his
first trip. He places the comb on
the closed lid of the box, replenish'
es its cells from vial of syrup,
/ lights his pipe, and disposes
himself comfortably to watch the
return of his sometime captive
The length OF time he has to wait
TOR this depends partly on the dis
tance the bee has to go and partly
on the wealth of the swarm, the
members of the swarm With a scan
ty store of honey work faster
than those of a rich one.
But soon or late it comes back,
and beating about a little, finds
the lure and settles upon 1t, fills
herself, rises, circles, and is away
agaln. Now the hunter tries his
best 10 catch the course, and IL
needs quick and practised eye to
follow the brown speck as 1t gyrates
widely overhead for moment and
then darts away on the "bee'line,"
straight and swift as all arrow
Sometimes he gets rid of the un-
comfortable twisting Of the neck
which such rapid eye.following re-
Guires when sitting or standing, by
lying on his back near the box
The bee has told her people OF the
easily gotten nectar, and. when
next returning. brings compan'
ION. and at each return perhaps
another, TIL, may be, a dozen are
busy about the comb, and, as each
flies homeward, the hunter strives
to get it's line Of flight. Having
this line pretty well established, u
their journeys are evidently short
he follows it into the wood, and
perhaps has the luck of finding the
tree in a few minutes.
The American bee hunter has
no helpful bird, as the African
hunter has, to lead him by
/ voice and fight TO the hidden
sweets, bnt must depend altogether
on his own sharp eyes and skill
He takes little note of anything
unconnected with his quest as be
pushes through the brushwood and
briers, and traDples the terms undel
toot. The pack Of halfgrown grouse
that 20 whlrring away from bis
very feet may startle him with a
suddenness of their uprising, but
further than this he notices them
as little as he does the jays that
scold him, but holds right onward,
his eye climbing every tree on the
line that gives sign of hollow.heaTt
edness, searching every foot of It'd
length for the Knot hole, wood
Iecker's boring, or crevlce which
-, lao tho Oafa Of tho heels QafalQ