PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 155 



observations of M. Huber, to take place in the open air, 

 and to be followed by the death of the unfortunate male a . 

 It is to be recollected that, from September to April, ge- 

 nerally speaking, there are no males in the hives; yet 

 during this period the queen often oviposits : a former 

 fecundation, therefore, must fertilize all the eggs laid in 

 this interval. The impregnation, in order to ensure com- 

 plete fertility, must not be too long retarded : for, as I 

 before observed, if this be delayed beyond the twenty- 

 eighth day of her existence, her ovaries become so vi- 

 tiated, that she can no longer lay eggs that will produce 

 workers, but can only furnish the hive with a male po- 

 pulation ; which, however high a privilege it may be ac- 

 counted amongst men, is the reverse of it amongst 

 the bees. When this is the case, the abdomen of the 

 queen becomes so enlarged that she is no longer able 

 to fly b ; and, what is remarkable, she loses that instinc- 

 tive animosity which stimulates the fertile ones to attack 

 their rivals . Thus she seems to own that she is not 

 equal to the duties of her station, and can tolerate an- 

 other to discharge them in her room. When we con- 

 sider how much virgin queens are slighted by their sub- 

 jects, we may suppose that nature urges them to take the 

 opportunity of the first warm day, when the males fly 

 forth, to pair with one of them. 



When fecundation has not been retarded, forty-six 

 hours after it has taken place, the queen begins to lay 

 eggs that will produce workers, and continues for the 

 subsequent eleven months, more or less, to lay them 

 solely ; and it is only after this period that an uninter- 

 rupted laying of male eggs commences. But when it 



a Huber, i. 63 " Schirach, 257. c Huber, i. 319- 



