1 44 SWARMS. 



soon as hatched, sets out in search of the males, and 

 is impregnated, no further emigration will take place, 

 because, being now about to become a mother, the 

 character to which alone the bees render their homage, 

 she enters into the full possession of her rights 

 and is allowed to attack and destroy all the unhatched 

 royal brood. And, further ; swarming is equally at an 

 end, when, after the departure of the first colony, the 

 remaining population is too small to keep up a vigilant 

 guard over the royal cells. In that case, as if aware of 

 the impossibility of a second emigration, the bees aban- 

 don the watch, and the young Queens, leaving their 

 cells, engage in mutual combat till all are destroyed ex- 

 cept one, who reigns undisputed sovereign. But in ordi- 

 nary circumstances, the agitation of the Queen, abun- 

 dance of brood, a favourable season, and, perhaps, 

 other causes unknown to us, all lead to farther emi- 

 gration, and, in populous hives, this may take place 

 three and even four times. The interval between the 

 first and second swarm is from eight to twelve days ; 

 it is of a shorter duration between the second and 

 third, and still less between the third and fourth ; in 

 fact, when a fourth does take place, it is always on 

 the day following the departure of the third.* 



It may appear surprising that a hive can swarm so 

 often without being too much weakened. The first 

 swarm is frequently so large that the hive seems alto- 

 gether deserted, yet, in eight or ten days afterwards, 

 the population is in such abundance as to be able to 

 send forth another colony. But we must remember 

 * Feburier, TraiM des Abeilles. 



