THE BEE. 107 



While there is room enough in the hive, the 

 bees remain quietly together ; it is necessity 

 alone that compels the separation. Sometimes, 

 indeed, the young brood, with graceless obstina- 

 cy, refuse to depart, and even venture to resist 

 their progenitors. The young ones are known 

 by being browner than the old, with whiter hair ; 

 the old ones are of a lighter colour, with red 

 hair. The two armies are therefore easily distin- 

 guishable, and dreadful battles are often seen to 

 ensue. But the victory almost ever terminates 

 with strict poetical justice in favour of the vete- 

 rans, and the rebellious offspring are driven off, 

 not without loss and mutilation. 



In different countries the swarms make their 

 appearance at different times of the year, and there 

 are several signs previous to this intended migra- 

 tion. The night before, an unusual buzzing is 

 heard in the hive ; in the morning, though the 

 weather be soft and inviting, they seem not to 

 obey the call, being intent on more important 

 meditations within. All labour is discontinued 

 in the hive, every bee is either employed in forc- 

 ing, or reluctantly yielding a submission ; at length 

 after some noise and tumult, a queen-bee is chosen, 

 to guard, rather than conduct, the young colony 

 to other habitations, and then they are marshalled 

 without any apparent conductor. In less than a 

 minute they leave their native abode, and form- 

 ing a cloud round their protectress, they set off, 

 without seeming to know the place of their des- 

 tination j The world before tliem, where to choose 

 their place of rest. The usual time of swarming 



