264 THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. [B. IX. 



trives to enter unnoticed, he is unable to fly from repletion, 

 and is rolled out before the whole swarm ; so that it is diffi- 

 __cuit-to escape, j 



13. The kings themselves are never seen out of the hives, 

 except with a young swarm, and in young swarms all the 

 rest appear to be collected round him. When a' swarm 

 is about to separate, a peculiar and singular noise is made 

 for some days, and for two or three days beforehand a few 

 bees are seen flying round the hive ; and if the king is 

 among them he is not seen, for it is not easy to see him. And 

 when they are collected, all the rest fly away and separate 

 themselves with their respective kings : and if a few of them 

 happen to be near at hand, they join themselves with one of 

 the numerous swarms. And if the king that they have left 

 follows them, they kill him. This is the manner of their 

 leaving the hive, and of swarming. 



14. They all have their proper work to perform. Some 

 bring flowers, others w r ater, and others polish and erect the 

 cells. Water is brought when they are rearing their young. 

 None of them ever settle upon flesh, nor will they eat any- 

 thing seasoned. They have no particular time for com- 

 mencing work, but when they are properly supplied, and 

 in good health, they are particularly diligent during the 

 summer. When the day is fine they work without ceasing, 

 and as soon as the young bees are three days old, they set 

 to work, if properly fed. And when the swarm settles 

 some depart for food, and afterwards return. In healthy 

 swarms the progeny of the bees only cease from reproduction 1 

 for about forty days after the winter solstice. As soon as 

 the young bees are grown, they offer them food, and smear 

 the cells with it, and as soon as they are strong enough, the 

 young bees rupture the covering of the cell, and so escape. 



15. The good kinds of bees destroy any creatures that are 

 produced in their hives and destroy the combs ; but the other 

 kinds from their inferiority overlook the destruction of their 

 work. When the dealers in honey take the combs, they 

 leave the bees some food for the winter. Jf sufficient is left, 

 the swarm is preserved ; but if not, they either die in the 

 winter, or, if the weather continues fine, desert the hive. 



1 This should probably be read " the bees only ceaso from their work 

 for forty days during the winter solstice." 



