132 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



he discovered had lost their queen, were engaged in 

 erecting some royal cells upon the ruins of some of the 

 common ones. He also informs me that he has found 

 Huber's statements, as far as he has had an opportunity 

 of verifying them, perfectly accurate ^ 



As I think you will allow that the evidence just de- 

 tailed to you is abundantly sufficient to establish the fact 

 in question, we will now see whether any satisfactory 

 account can be given for such changes being produced 

 by such causes. " It does not appear to me improbable," 

 says Bonnet, " that a certain kind of nutriment, and in 

 more than usual abundance, may cause a development 

 in the grubs of bees, of organs which would never be 

 developed without it. I can readily conceive also, that 

 a habitation considerably more spacious, and differently 

 placed, is absolutely necessary to the complete develop- 

 ment of organs which the new nutriment may cause to 

 grow in all directions "'." And again, with respect to the 

 wings of the queen bee, which do not exceed those of 



^ The same gentleman subsequently sent me the following me- 

 moranda. 



July 10, 1820. A late second swarm was hived into a box con- 

 structed so that each comb could be taken out and examined sepa- 

 rately. On the 7th of August the queen was removed, and each 

 comb taken out and closely examined -. there was not the least ap- 

 pearance of any royal cells, but nuich brood and eggs in the common 

 ones. On the 14th, three royal cells were observed nearly finished, 

 with a large grub in each. On the 16th, the three cells were sealed. 

 On the 18th and 21st, they remained in the same state. On the22d, 

 two queens were found hatched, one was removed and the other 

 left with the stock, the remaining royal cell being still closed. On 

 the morning of the 23d, a dead queen was thrown out of the hive, 

 upon which examination being made, the royal cell left closed on 

 the 22d was found open, and a living queen in the stock which was 

 allowed to remain. •> Huber, ii. 445. 



