PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. H<9 



the whole, the same agitation is caused in her as if she 

 were forcibly prevented, and she becomes disposed to 

 depart, rather than remain in the midst of her rivals^ 

 though her own offspring. 



But though the bees, in one of these cases, appear 

 such unconcerned spectators of the destruction of royal 

 personages, or rather, the applauders and inciters of the 

 bloody fact ; and in the other show little respect to them, 

 put such a restraint upon their persons, and manifest 

 such disregard to their wishes ; yet when they are once 

 acknowledged as governois of the hive, and leaders of 

 the colony, their instinct assumes a new and wonderful 

 direction. From this moment they become the ^^ pub- 

 lica cura" the objects of constant and universal atten- 

 tion ; and wherever they go, are greeted by a homage 

 which evinces the entire devotion of their subjects. You 

 seemed amused and interested in no slight degree by 

 what I related in a former letter of the marked respect 

 paid by the ants to their females* : but this will bear no 

 comparison with that shown by the inhabitants of the 

 hive to their queen. She appears to be the very soul of 

 all their actions, and the centre of their instincts. When 

 they are deprived of her, or of the means of re})lacing 

 her, they lose all their activity, and pursue no longer 

 their daily labours. In vain the flowers tempt ihem 

 with their nectar and ambrosial dust : they collect nei- 

 ther ; they elaborate no wax, and build no cells ; they 

 scarcely seem to exist ; and, indeed, would soon perish, 

 were not the means of restoring their monarch put within 

 their reach. But, if a small piece of comb containing 

 the brood grubs of workei's be given to them, all seemt 

 ° See above, p. 56. 



