PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 169 



Is it not reasonable to suppose that the instinct which 

 teaches them what is necessary for the preservation of 

 their society, — at the same time that it shows them that 

 without a queen that society cannot be preserved, — im- 

 pells them in every case to the mode of treating- her 

 which will most effectually influence her conduct, and 

 give it that direction which is most beneficial to the 

 community ? 



Yet, with respect to the treatment of queens, instinct 

 does not invariably direct the bees to this end. There 

 are certain exceptions, produced perhaps by artificial 

 or casual occurrences, in which it seems to deviate, 

 yet as we should call it amiably, from the rule of the 

 public advantage. Retarded queens, which, as I have 

 oI)served, lay male eggs only, deposit them in all cells 

 indifferently, even in royal ones. These last are treated 

 by the workers as if they were actually to become 

 queens. Here their instinct seems defective : — it ap- 

 pears unaccountable that they should know these eggs, 

 as they do, when deposited in workers cells, and give 

 them a convex covering when about to assume the pu- 

 pa ; unless, perhaps, the size of the larva directs them 

 in this case. 



The amputation of one of the antenna of a queen 

 bee appears not to affect her perceptibly ; but cutting 

 off both these important organs produces a very striking 

 derangement of all her proceedings — She seems in a 

 species of delirium, and deprived of all her instincts ; 

 every thing is done at random ; yet t'le respect and ho- 

 mage of the workers towards her, thougli they are rc- 

 roived by herwith indifference, continue undiminished. 

 T r another in the same condition be put in the hive, the 



