B. IX. j THE HISTOltT OF ANIMALS. 263 



10. The long bees make their combs uneven, and the 

 covering swollen, like that of the wild bee. Their offspring, 

 also, and the rest of their productions, are not arranged in 

 any order, but according to chance. Among them there 



are many bad kings, and many drones^, and thieves, as they ^~~ 

 are called; but little or no honeys' The bees sit upon the 

 combs, in order to bring them to maturity. If this is not 

 done, they say that the cells perish and become filled with 

 a web ; but if' afterwards they are able to continue sitting, 

 something like an abortion is produced : if they cannot sit, 

 the whole perishes. Maggots are formed in those cells that 

 perish, which acquire wings and fly away. If a comb falls 

 down, the bees set it up, and put props beneath it, in order 

 that they may be able to pass underneath ; for if they have no 

 path by which to approach the place where they sit, the cells 

 become covered with a web. 



11. The thieves and the drones do not work, but only in- 

 jure the other bees, and when taken they are killed by the 

 useful bees. Many of their rulers are also frequently killed, 

 and especially the bad ones, in order that the swarm may 

 not be dispersed by their numbers. They are the more dis- 

 posed to kill them when the swarm is not fruitful, and no 

 casts are formed. At such times they destroy the royal 

 cells, if any have been prepared, for they are the leaders of 

 the swarm. They destroy also those of the drones, if honey 

 is scarce, or the swarm is short of honey. They fight boldly 

 for their honey with those that would take it from them, 

 and drive out any drones that may be in the hive, and are 

 often seen sitting upon the hives. 



12. The small bees fight eagerly with the long kind, and 

 endeavour to drive them from their hives : and if they pre- 

 vail, it seems to be a sign of a very strong swarm ; but if the 

 others conquer, when left alone, they are idle, and do nothing 

 that comes to good, but perish in the course of the autumn. 

 "Whenever the useful bees kill any of them, they endeavour 

 to do so outside of the hive ; and if any of them die in the 

 hive, they carry them out. Those which are called thieves 

 injure their own combs, and if they can do it in secret, 

 they will enter those of other bees, but if discovered they 

 are killed. It is, however, difficult to enter un perceived, 

 for there are guards placed at each entrance ; and if one con- 



