Perfect societies of insects. 145 



one suddenly seizing the other by her wing-, mounted 

 upon her and inflicted a moi'tal wound''. 



The combats I have liere described to you took place 

 between virgin queens ; but M. Huber found that those 

 which had been impregnated were actuated by the same 

 animosity, and attacked royal-cells with a fury equally 

 destructive. When another fertile queen had been in- 

 troduced into this hive, a singular scene ensued, which 

 proves how well aware the workers are that they can- 

 not prosper with two sovereigns. Soon after she was 

 introduced, a circle of bees was formed round the 

 stranger, not to compliment her on her arrival, or pay 

 her the usual homage, but to confine her, and prevent 

 her escape ; for they insensibly agglomerated them- 

 selves in such numbers round her, and hemmed her in so 

 closely, that in about a minute she was completely a 

 prisoner. While this was transacting, what Avas equally 

 remarkable, other workers assembled in clusters round 

 the legitimate queen, and impeded all her motions ; so 

 that soon she was not more at liberty than the intruder. 

 It seemed as if the bees foresaw the combat that was to 

 ensue between the two rivals, and were impatient for 

 the event ; for they only confined them when they ap- 

 peared to avoid each other. To witness the homage, 

 respect, and love that they usually manifest to their 

 lawful ruler; the anxiety concerning her which they 

 often exhibit; and the distrust which for a time (as 

 we shall see hereafter) they usually show towards 

 strange ones even when deprived of their own ; one 

 ■would expect that, rather tlian permit such a perilous 

 combat, they would unite in the defence of their sove- 



* Ilubor, i. 174. 

 VOL. n. L, 



