8 Rilcy Presidential Address. 



is cast into the base of the cell at the last molt, and is covered 

 in the bottom of the cell by the lower part of the last cast skin 

 or pellicle, which also serves to line the rest of the cell and leave 

 it clean for the formation of the pupa. Thus, when the young 

 bee emerges, the cell needs but to be brushed out by the workers 

 to be ready to receive another egg or stores of honey and pollen 

 which are to form the winter food. 



Just before pupation, or when the larva has acquired full 

 growth, the adult workers cover the cell with a convex lid com 

 posed not of wax alone, as in the case of the cappings of honey 

 cells, but of pollen and wax combined. The larva just before 

 pupation strengthens this cap by lining it with silk, which is also 

 slightly attached to the last cast skin. The pupa state lasts some 

 twelve days, and on the twenty-first day from the time the egg 

 was laid, the perfect bee cuts a circular opening in the cell 

 cap and makes its way out. The first care of this young bee is to 

 seek food from an open honey cell, and in the course of two or 

 more days it has acquired sufficient strength and consistence to 

 enable it to begin its labors as a nurse bee, doing for the develop 

 ing larvae what was so recently done for it. After a week's time 

 it takes short flights, noting well the location of its hive so as to 

 be able to return to it. 



Queens are only bred when a colony is about to swarm, or 

 when an aged or failing queen needs replacing, or where an acci 

 dent has deprived the hive of her services. If she be removed 

 from the hive during the working season, the bees are thrown 

 into great excitement, shown by the change of the contented hum 

 into one of alarm, by the hurried movements from the combs to 

 the entrance, and by the discontented flight to and from the hive. 

 If all the brood combs are removed the bees become panic- 

 stricken, and give utterance to a peculiar mournful note or dis 

 tressed wail, quite different from the normal cheerful hum. In 

 time, however, this excitement subsides, as they become satisfied 

 of their loss. If the queen be returned, or a comb containing 

 young larvae be introduced into the hive, the whole attitude 

 changes. The moment the first bee touches with its antennae the 

 queen, or a comb, or any point over which she had walked re 

 cently, it sets up a loud and cheerful hum, and the occupants of 

 the hive, even those unable to see the comb, immediately catch 

 the sound, and crowd toward the point whence it first pro- 



