FARMER'S MANUAL. 



The particular laws of instinct, be<nn to govern 

 the Bee as soon as it quits its nymphal state, and is 

 capable of action ; and one uniform system of order 

 regulates his movements, in union with the whole 

 swarm, throughout all the instinctive operations of 

 them. As well might the wise man have said, Go to 

 the Bee thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise* 



CHAP. II. 



Description of the Queen Bee. 



In our last chapter, we noticed the character of the 

 Bee, and the instinctive character of a swarm, or com- 

 munity, with its queen Bee, as the mother and ruler of 

 the family; as an elective monarchy, upon the death of 

 the queen, and a monarchy with a community of pro- 

 perty, and nature's immutable instinctive laws as 

 their only guide. This chapter describes the queen 

 mother as not formed by nature for labour, but form- 

 ed only to rule, and to breed. Her teeth and her 

 ivings are unfit for labour, being much shorter than 

 the common Bees and the drones. The body of 

 the queen is much longer and slimer than the other 

 Bees, her belly of a bright yellow, an^ her back 

 and wings, of a brighter hue. The queen pos- 

 sesses an astonishing fecundity, unequalled by any 

 thing in nature, except the fish ; her body is re- 

 plete with eggs, arranged in two ovaria, and preparr 

 ed for the breeding season. These she deposits in 

 her cells, so long as a cell is vacant, and thus lays 

 the foundation for the young swarm. I say lays the 

 foundation, but whether perfect, or imperfect, is yet 

 a question ; the fecundity of the Bee after all the 

 elaborate research of man, is yet a mystery unsettled 

 13 * 



