92 BEES AND WASPS [OH. 



that in the event of the premature decease of the 

 foundress "queen," the colony can still continue, 

 thanks to the fertility of these her former servants. 

 It is only towards the end of the summer that the 

 drones make their appearance, ready to mate with 

 the young large females which are alone destined to 

 pass through the winter. The nests are at all times 

 liable to the attacks of mice, earwigs, beetles, and 

 many other insects, and are quickly brought to 

 nought when autumn sets in. 



Despite the fact that the Bombi are but inferior 

 architects, they are nevertheless a most industrious 

 people. The working day begins with them at three 

 or four o'clock in the morning, and is continued 

 till dusk or even into the night, if the weather be 

 warm and the moonlight good. It was stated by 

 Godart, some two centuries ago, that some species 

 appoint a trumpeter-bee to rouse the rest of the 

 community; this statement was confirmed in the 

 latter part of the nineteenth century by Hoffer, who 

 observed the performance in a nest kept in his labora- 

 tory, and noted that when the trumpeter-bee was 

 taken away its place was filled by a substitute the 

 next morning. The doubt which was for so long 

 entertained with regard to this trumpeter is perhaps 

 due to the fact that most human beings receive their 

 summons to leave their beds several hours after the 

 humble-bees have been "called." 



