154 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



to the fertile queens that he offered to them^. He attri- 

 butes this to some agreeable sensation which they ex- 

 perience from their queens, independent of their fecun- 

 dity. But since virgin queens, as we have seen, do not 

 excite it, more probably it is a remnant of their former 

 attachment, first excited by her fecundity, and aftei'- 

 wards strengthened and continued by habit. 



I may here introduce an interesting anecdote related 

 by Reaumur, which strongly marks the attachment of 

 bees to their queen when apparently lifeless. He took 

 one out of the water quite motionless, and seemingl}' 

 dead, which had lost part of one of its legs. Bringing 

 it home, he placed it amongst some workers that he had 

 found in the same situation, most of which he had re- 

 vived by means of warmth ; some however still being in 

 as bad a state as the poor queen. No sooner did these 

 revived workers perceive the latter in this wretched con- 

 dition, than they appeared to compassionate her case, 

 and did not cease to lick her with their tongues till she 

 showed signs of returning animation ; which the bees no 

 sooner perceived, than they set up a general hum, as if 

 for joy at the hapjw event. All this time they paid no 

 attention to the workers who were in the same misera- 

 ble state ^\ 



On a former occasion I have mentioned the laying of 

 the eggs by the queen" ; but as I did not then at all en- 

 large upon it, I shall now explain the process more in 

 detail. In a subsequent letter I shall notice, what has 

 so much puzzled learned apiarists — her fecundation : 

 which is now ascertained beyond contradiction, from the 



» Huber, i. S22. " lleaum. v. 2Gr). ' Vol. I. .'376 — . 



