36 HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



usual: after that period, a hubbub commences; work is 

 abandoned; the whole hive is in an uproar; every bee 

 traverses the hive at random, and with the most evident 

 want of purpose. This state of anarchy sometimes con- 

 tinues for two days ; then the bees gather in clusters of a 

 dozen or so, as though engaged in consultation, the result 

 of which seems to be a fixed resolution to supply the loss. 

 A few of the workers repair to the cells in which are deposit- 

 ed the eggs of workers ; three of these cells are quickly bro- 

 ken into one, the edges polished, and the sides smoothed 

 and rounded, a single egg being allowed to remain at the 

 bottom. 



When this egg hatches, the maggot is fed with a pecu- 

 liarly nutritive food, called royal bee-bread, which is never 

 given to any maggots but such as are to produce queens ; 

 work is now resumed over the whole hive, and goes on as 

 briskly as before : on the sixteenth day the egg produces 

 a queen, whose appearance is hailed with every demon- 

 stration of delight, and who at once assumes sovereignty 

 over the hive. When, under ordinary circumstances, a 

 young queen emerges from the chrysalis, the old one fre- 

 quently quits the hive, heading the first swarm for the 

 season, and flying to some neighbouring resting-place is 

 observed by the owner, captured, placed under a new hive, 

 and a new colony is immediately commenced. 



Before a swarm leaves the hive, sure indications are 

 given of the intended movement ; the workers leave their 

 various occupations and collect in groups, especially near 

 the door of the hive, as though in consultation on the im- 

 portant event about to take place. 



As the summer advances many queens are hatched; but 

 the workers do not allow them instant liberty, as severe 

 battles would take place between them and the reigning 

 queen, in which one would be killed : the workers, there- 



