As to the statement "It was widely believed that the sound of clashing
cymbals caused bees to swarm." I have read and heard just the opposite, that
this or similar sounds that mimic lightning will cause an airborne swarm to
come to ground.  This belief may in fact stem from old English common law
that allowed the beekeeper to establish ownership of a swarm that departed
from his property to fly over the property of another.  By following the
swarm on the ground, and making a lot of noise (banging pots,or whatever) the
beekeeper could maintain ownership and recover the swarm once it did land.
Kind of like calling "I've got it" when you're in the outfield running under
a pop fly.
/C. Crowell
Hightstown, NJ

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