PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 15/ 



dependent of their fecundity. But since virgin queens, 

 as we have seen, do not excite it, more probably it is 

 a remnant of their former attachment, first excited by 

 her fecundity, and afterwards strengthened and conti- 

 nued by habit. 



I may here introduce an interesting anecdote re- 

 lated by Reaumur, which strongly marks the attach- 

 ment of bees to their queen when apparently lifeless. He 

 took one out of the water quite motionless, and seem- 

 ingly dead, which had lost part of one of its legs. Bring- 

 ing it home, he placed it amongst some workers that he 

 had found in the same situation, most of which he had 

 revived by means of warmth ; some however still being 

 in as bad a state as the poor queen. No sooner did 

 these revived workers perceive the latter in this wretch- 

 ed condition, than they appeared to compassionate her 

 ease, and did not cease to lick her with their tongues 

 till she showed signs of returning animation; which the 

 bees no sooner perceived, than they set up a general 

 hum, as if for joy at the happy event. All this time 

 they paid no attention to the workers who were in the 

 same miserable state". 



On a former occasion I have mentioned the laying of 

 the eggs by the queen'' ; but as I did not then at all en- 

 large upon it, I shall now explain the process more in 

 detail. In a subsequent letter I shall notice, what has 

 so much puzzled learned apiarists — her fecundation ; 

 which is now ascertained beyond contradiction, from 

 the observations of M. Huber, to take place in the open 

 air, and to be followed by the death of the unfortunate 

 male''. It is to be recollected that, from September to 



* Rfuum. V. 265. " Vol, I. 2d Ed. 376. ' Huber, i. 63— 



