868. INSECTS THAT LIVE 
lony; her size, and especially her re- 
markable fecundity, secure her the hom- 
age of her subjects. She keeps up the po- 
pulation of the hive, and suffers none to dis- 
pute her authority. However, at the pe- 
riod when she gives birth to males, the 
bees, who are aware, perhaps, that she 
bears also the germs of females, prepare 
royal cells: in these she deposits her eggs; 
and the larve, when disclosed, become 
queens. The mother does not regard, 
without aversion, these individuals, who 
may contend with her for pre-eminence : 
she endeavours to destroy the objects of 
her anger; but the workers prevent her 
reaching those cells which contain their 
forthcoming chiefs. ‘The queen, agitat- 
ed with the fear of seeing them quit their 
cells, abandons the hive, accompanied 
by a mumerous colony, leaving behind 
her several females destined to be her 
successors, who, after having disputed 
the empire, or induced one part of the 
inhabitants to desert with them, resign 
to one of their rivals, the sovereignty, or, 
