MODES OF EMERGING FROM PUP^. 331 



"We might have been led by analogy to suppose 

 that bees would adopt a similar method of extricating 

 their young ; but observation shows that they do not, 

 for they break through their cocoon by means of their 

 mandibles, at the same time forcing their way through 

 the wax that is fastened down above to the web, and 

 bursting it into several jagged pieces, which they throw 

 off on all sides. The other bees carry these broken 

 pieces away, and clear the cells so thoroughly as to 

 make them quite smooth and even. The male, as 

 well as the queen bees, force their way also out of 

 their cells in the same manner as the common or 

 working kind, and all undergo the same change.* 

 But there is one very remarkable difference peculiar 

 to the royal cocoons, first observed by the elder Huber, 

 which well merits to be mentioned. 



A hive of bees is so essentially monarchical, that 

 when more queens than one are produced they ex- 

 hibit mutual and deadly animosity, which leads them 

 to destroy one another. When there are several 

 royal pupse, therefore, in a hive, the first transformed 

 attacks the rest and stings them to death ; though, if 

 these pupae were enveloped in complete cocoons, this 

 murder could not be perpetrated ; — for the silk is of 

 so close a texture that the sting could not penetrate 

 it ; and if it did, the barbs would stick fast in the 

 meshes, and the royal assailant, unable to retract her 

 weapon, would become the victim of her own fury. 

 In order, therefore, that she may destroy her rivals, it 

 is necessary for the hinder rings to remain uncovered, 

 and on this account it is inferred the royal grubs spin 

 only imperfect cocoons, open behind and enveloping 

 only the head, shoulders, and first ring of the ab- 

 domen. 



Huber was exceedingly anxious to discover whether 

 the royal grubs spun their cocoons imperfect in con- 

 sequence of a particular instinct, or of the greater 

 * Swammerdam, vol. i. p. 187. 



