The spring after I started beekeeping, I hived my first swarm and, gosh, the swarm was docile, easily-handled, and on a fence post. A week later, I went up a hemlock tree after another swarm. I planned to knock the branch to shake the swarm into a red plastic bucket. I was not wearing a headnet because 1) I couldn't see to climb with the headnet on, and 2) because the books were correct and swarms were docile and easily handled. When I hit the branch to dislodge the swarm, I also, inadvertently, moved the bucket so that the swarm dropped onto my head and shoulders. I came _rapidly_ down the tree, removed (with my wife's help) thirteen stingers from my head, neck, and wrists, and hustled into the shower because I had to go to teach a class. (I live on the grounds of a boarding school.) The class watched, with some amusement, as points on my face swelled from the stings. This happened in 1972. And I did learn to take my headnet up into the tree so I could wear it as insurance before I moved the bees. Many years later, I learned that the amazing secret to collecting a high swarm is to raise a frame with some uncapped brood up to the swarm. A swarm will move onto the frame and the frame with bees can be lowered to the ground. The beekeeper stays on the ground. The swarm's instinct to cover and protect/warm uncapped brood appears to be stronger than the swarming instinct. Swarm-collecting has been, for me, a great and positive public relations operation. (No, I haven't dumped another swarm on my head!) Swarm-collecting is almost always done in front of an interested (apprehensive?) and attentive crowd. They leave knowing a lot more about bees and beekeeping. Tim Tim Sterrett Westtown, (Southeastern) Pennsylvania, USA [log in to unmask]