In a message dated 22/04/2008 13:19:39 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

since  Ancient times it was believed that a flying swarm could be induced 
to  settle by ‘tanging’-striking two metal objects together to make a loud  
noise…”



Not only in ancient times. In 1992 the Head Gardener of a country mansion  
not far from me telephoned to say that a swarm had issued from the chimneys  
(which the recently deceased John Atkinson knew to be inhabited by bees in the  
1940s) and that he had "banged on a bit of galvanise [zinc coated corrugated  
iron] and managed to bring them down in the small courtyard."  Which was  
whence I collected them.
 
Chris



   

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