TO ALL YOU BEE DRUMMERS: I don't have any scientific references to drumming, but the practice was very common at the turn of the century. Check any circa 1900 ABC & XYZ of beekeeping under the heading of "transferring bees". Beekeepers used drumming in transferring bees from "gums" or plank hives into the Langstroth contraption. Another comment on a different note (pun intended); if you have a swarm on the ground and place a hive next to it, in a few moments they will troop into the box without drumming. It may be odor, a dark hole, the urge to climb, or who knows what, but they will usually enter unassisted. After the first few go inside, scent fanning starts and helps cue the others. There may be a lot more involved. Lastly, one story I've heard about "tanging" for bees (banging on an object to make a swarm alight) is that it was done by people to stake their claim on an airborne swarm. It meant that they saw it first and for others to keep hands off as they would run through the village chasing it. Oddly enough, if you bang long enough, the swarm lands. It's a miracle!