PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 153 



given to them, all seem endued with new life : their 

 instincts revive ; they immediately set about building 

 royal cells ; they feed With their appropriate food the 

 grubs they have selected, and every thing proceeds in 

 the usual routine. Virgil has described this attach- 

 ment of the bees to their sovereign with great truth and 

 spirit in the following lines : 



" Lydian nor Mede so much his king adores, 

 Nor those on Nilus' or Hydaspes' shores : 

 The state united stands while he remains, 

 But should he fall, what dire confusion reigns! 

 Their waxen combs and honey, late their joy, 

 With grief and rage distracted, they destroy : 

 Ho guards the works, with awe they him surround, 

 And crowd about him with triumphant sound; 

 Him frequent on their duteous shoulders bear, 

 Bleed, fall, and die for him in glorious war." • 



M. Huber thus describes the consequences of the loss 

 of a queen. — When the queeji is removed fi'om a hive, 

 at first the bees seem not to perceive it, their order and 

 tranquillity not being disturbed, and their labours pro- 

 ceeding as usual. About an hour after her departure, 

 inquietude begins to manifest itself amongst them ; the 

 care of the young brood no longer engages their atten- 

 tion, and they run here and there, as if in great agita- 

 tion. This agitation, however, is at first confined to a 

 small portion of the community. The bees that are 

 first sensible of their loss meet w ith others, they mu- 

 tually cross their antennae, and strike them lightly. 

 By this action they appear to communicate the sad in- 

 telligence to those who receive the blow, who in their 

 turn impart it in the same way to others. Disorder 



