THE FARMER'S MANUAL* 177 



which was barren. The cells were destitute of pollen, 

 and possessed some honey. On the 16th of July, he 

 removed the queen, as well as all the partitions, ex- 

 cepting the 1 st and 1 2th combs, the cells of which were 

 occupied with eggs and larva, of all ages ; the cells 

 in which pollen were perceived, were cut out, and 

 the hive was closed again with a grate. On the 1 7th, 

 the Bees appeared to tend their young; on the 18th, 

 after sunset, a great noise was heard in the hive ; the 

 shutters were opened, and it was remarked, that the 

 whole community was in a tumult; the brood combs 

 were abandoned; the Bees gnawed the gratings of 

 their enclosure, and were set at liberty. Night soon 

 compelled them to return to their combs, order was 

 restored, and the hive was closed as formerly. On 

 the 19th, the sketch of two equal cells, was seen dis- 

 tinctly. At evening, as before, the Bees recommenc- 

 ed their tumult, and were let loose, and again return- 

 ed to the hive as before, and it was closed. On the 

 20th, being the 5th day of their captivity, the brood 

 was examined,* in order to discover the cause of this 

 periodical agitation of the Bees ; the hive was car- 

 ried into a chamber, the windows of which were 

 closed, the Bees were set at liberty, and it was dis- 

 covered that the royal cells had not been continued ; 

 not a single egg, nor larva, were to be found ; all 

 had disappeared ; the larva had perished from hun- 

 ger. Can this be supposed to arise from any other 

 cause than the absence of pollen ? To ascertain this 

 fact, it was only necessary to carry them some pol- 

 len, and observe the result. For this purpose the 

 Bees were restored to their prison, after having sub- 

 stituted new combs, containing eggs and young lar- 

 va, in the place of those which had perished. On 

 the 22d, the observation was made, that the Bees had 

 fastened their combs, and fixed themselves on the 

 new brood ; some fragments of comb were then given 

 them, in which some other Bees had stored some pol- 

 erj, and they were placed openly on the stand of 



