GOVERNMENT OF WASPS AND BEES. 309 



dren, she thrust her head into the cell, seized the eggs 

 which they had deposited, and devoured them with 

 great avidity. A similar scene was repeated some 

 time after ; and subsequently one of the small fe- 

 males returned and covered in with wax the cells 

 which the mother had despoiled of their eggs ; and 

 when she was afterwards removed, the small females 

 contended for a cell with similar animosity, all of 

 them being eager to deposit in it at the same time*. 

 These contentions, however, do not appear, in this 

 case, as in the instance of the hive-bees, to arise 

 from the wish for supreme dominion, as nothing of 

 that kind has place in these communities. Even the 

 mother-bee of the hive, who has been dignified by all 

 writers with the title of queen, has apparently less 

 authority than any individual in the community, her 

 sole employment being to people the state by laying 

 esfiTs, and thoucrh she has been said to lead the bees 

 in the case of swarming, the fact appears to be, that 

 she is as much a follower as a leader. Swarms, indeed, 

 will not settle nor work without a female along with 

 them, but this arises from her being indispensable to 

 add to their numbers, and not that her superinten- 

 dence is wanted, much less indispensable. So far, 

 however, as increasing the population is concerned, 

 a hive is essentially monarchical, and hence every- 

 thing is arranged, in the management of the state, so 

 as to have always one female and no more. The 

 queen-regnant is on that account inspired with deadly 

 enmity towards her own offspring, should any other 

 female be evolved while she remains in the hive ; 

 and when she has migrated with a swarm, the same 

 animosity is shown by a young queen towards her 

 juniors, even while they are still in their cells; 

 and what is most wonderful, her murderous pur- 

 poses seem to be expressly abetted by the royal 

 * Linnaean Trans, vol, vi. 



