TERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 149 



therefore as the workers perceive — which the transpa- 

 rency of the cell permits them to do — that the young 

 queen has cut circularly through her cocoon, they im- 

 mediately solder the cleft up with some particles of 

 wax, and so keep her in confinement against her will. 

 Upon this, as if to complain of such treatment, she 

 emits a distinct sound, which excites no pity in the 

 breasts of her subjects, who detain Iier a prisoner two 

 days longer than nature has assigned for her confine- 

 ment. In the interim, she sometimes thrusts her tongue 

 through the cleft she has made, drawing it in and out 

 till she is noticed by the workers, to make them un- 

 derst7.nd that she is in want of food. Upon perceiving 

 this they give her honey, till her hunger being satis- 

 fied she draws her tongue back — upon which they stop 

 the orifice with wax^ 



You may think it perhaps extraordinary that the 

 workers should thus endeavour to retard the appear- 

 ance of their young females beyond its natural limit : 

 but when I explain to you the reason for this seeming 

 incongruity of instinct, you will adore the wisdom that 

 implanted it. Were a queen permitted to leave her 

 cell as soon as the natural term for it arrived, it would 

 require some time to fit her for flight, and to lead forth a 

 swarm ; during which interval a troublesome task would 

 be imposed upon the workers, who must constantly de- 

 tain her a prisoner to prevent her from destroying her 

 rivals, which would require the labours and attention 

 of a much larger number than are necessary to keep her 

 confined to her cell. On this account they never suf- 

 fer her to come forth till she is perfectly fit to take her 

 "Huber, i.256. 



