THE BEE. 



351 



jects, rushes from the hive, and leaves her empire to the 

 undisputed possession of lier hated daughters. It is said 

 that in every instance it is the old queen which leads the 

 first swarm. 



The multiplication of bees is so immense that it is 

 absolutely a matter of necessity that large parties should 

 continually emigrate. It is said that the young ones 

 remain at home as long as the hive is sufficiently large, to 

 accommodate them. The provision of nature to accom- 

 plish this end is singular. To see passion and cruelty 

 raging through all the brute creation, is one of those 

 mysteries which remain as yet unfolded. We should 

 have anticipated an affectionate, or at least a peaceful 

 and a good natured departure. But it is the hatred of 

 the mother for her daughters which drives the queen 

 from her hive, and she goes imbrued with the blood of 

 her children. We can see the wisdom of the object to be 

 attained but the means, by which God has seen fit to have 

 this object accomplished, are to us dark and mysterious. 

 The cruelty which is raging through the animal creation, 

 is one of the unfathomable mysteries of earth. 



For several days before the young ones swarm, it is 

 not unusual to see them hanging in thick and black clus- 

 ters about the hive, as if there were not sufficient room 

 for them within. This is undoubtedly the case, yet in 

 wet weather they contrive to stow themselves away, 

 though the lanes and alleys of their little city must be 

 greatly crowded, by this immense population. 



About six or seven thousand compose the average num- 

 ber of a swarm. In this number there is but one female, 

 the queen bee, several males or drones, who do not work, 

 and the common laboring bees. Before leaving the hive 

 they supply themselves liberally with food as though pre- 

 paring for a long journey. They usually set off from the 

 hive about the middle of the day, and often immediately 

 after a shower. In what manner they communicate'their 

 ideas so as to move simultaneously, it is difficult to 

 imagine, but they are clearly actuated by some common 

 principle. They hover a few moments about the hive as 

 though waiting for any tardy straggler, and then with 

 rapid wing turn from home, the wide world before them. 



