126 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD. CHAP. 



cocoon with their mandibles, and set free the now 

 perfect creature. For a little while it is weakly, and 

 unable to take care of itself, and assume its share of 

 the tasks of the hive. So long as feebleness continues 

 the nurses never lose sight of their tender dependant, 

 they watch it until strength and knowledge of its 

 duties are acquired. The affectionate workers even 

 accompany their young winged nurslings to the surface 

 of the dome, and feed them for the last time before 

 they start, in turn, on their nuptial flight. 



On the occasion of this swarming, which has been 

 already alluded to, it was formerly thought that when 

 any female alighted at a great distance from the nest, 

 driven thither by the wind, or carried merely by 

 flight, she found her way back to her original quarters. 

 This has been proved to be impossible. On the con- 

 trary, a solitary female falling to the ground in an out- 

 of-the-way spot, has been observed to creep into a 

 hole, and to cast aside her wings, and with them her 

 dignity, as it were, and usual exemption from toil, 

 taking upon herself unaccustomed menial offices. 

 Alone, unaided, she constructs a small nest, and lays 

 some eggs, and feeds the young, and rears them to 

 maturity. Wonderful to say, she appears to be aware 

 of the necessity of developing them into workers. No 

 sooner do they attain perfection and the capacity to 

 assume adult labour, than the mother relinquishes the 

 duties foreign to her nature, and falls back on the sole 

 occupation of egg-laying ; leaving her progeny to 

 enlarge the dimensions of the dwelling, to keep it in 

 repair, to defend it, to provision themselves and her 

 with food, and to act the part of nurses to the young, 



