APIS. 359 



the first swarm of the fresh season is thrown off. Other 

 queens become gradually developed, and other swarms 

 similarly accompany them, hut each swarm successively 

 diminishes in the number of its participating emigrants, 

 the last consisting perhaps of not more than two thou- 

 sand. The order of the hive is speedily restored after 

 each swarming convulsion has subsided, until the popula- 

 tion being sufficiently reduced, the motive to leave is de- 

 stroyed, and the queen is then permitted to execute her 

 murderous onslaught on the hapless young queens, which 

 are either still embryonic, or, if developed, have not been 

 allowed to leave their cells : but. where they have done 



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so, and are still within the hive, her attendants and the 

 old queen's attendants open their ranks, and the furious 

 rivals attack each other. The contest is sharp but short, 

 the young queen is stung to death, the body is conveyed 

 away, and the old queen reigns paramount. Her next 

 effort is to destroy the royal brood in their cells ; the 

 cells she tears to pieces, the young ones within, where 

 developed, may be heard uttering a plaintive cry, whilst 

 she sounds a triumphant note as loud as the highest note 

 of a flute. Her throne is now free from pretenders, and 

 after the expulsion of the drones, which then takes place, 

 the entire harmony of the hive is restored for another 

 season. The queen meanwhile is growing old, a new 

 spring has set in, her stock of eggs is being exhausted, 

 and mortality, which afflicts even royalty itself, lays 

 her low. Now comes into operation that extraordinary 

 faculty possessed by these insects. Her death has taken 

 place after she had laid new spring eggs, which are to 

 produce a further addition of neuters and a supply of 

 drones. The loss of their queen is soon communicated 

 to the inhabitants of the hive, confusion ensues, and 



