x Donor LN MY SEUDY 245 
At 3 p.m. the queen had laid the foundation of a 
large new cell. The workers were already inclined 
to interfere, shaking their wings excitedly as they 
approached it; the queen, however, took no notice 
of their opposition and only went on with the cell 
at intervals. 
I was unable to look into the nest again until 8.30 
p.M. The cell was then closed, the eggs having been 
laid in the interval. It was larger than the cell of 
yesterday, being about the size of a pea. The 
workers were very active, trying to open it, but the 
queen came and pushed them away, butting them 
severely. I saw her chase a particularly aggressive 
one, and while she was thus engaged another ran to 
the cell, and, eagerly opening it, began interfering 
with the eggs, which, however, being at the bottom, 
were not very accessible. The queen, returning, 
hurriedly pushed this worker aside and sealed up 
the cell. Directly her back was turned two workers 
began to open the cell again. Losing patience she 
gave one of them a furious butt which sent it reeling 
to the bottom of the comb, the other she engaged as 
she would a rival queen, embracing it as if to sting 
it, but it easily slipped out of her grip and ran away 
much frightened and subdued. 
A minute later, I looked and saw the queen 
working with her jaws at the cell in a great state of 
excitement and activity. Now, instead of closing 
the cell she had it wide open, and with feverish 
haste she seemed to be building it up and widening 
its mouth ; at the same time her body revolved round 
