SOME INSECT COMMUNITIES 67 



heavy with eggs and cannot fly far, and directly 

 she alights upon the branch of a tree, or some 

 other convenient spot, all the swarming emigrants 

 gather round her. Safely hived, or established 

 in new quarters, the workers at once set about 

 constructing brood-combs, the queen depositing 

 eggs in the cells directly they are ready. 



After the departure of the old queen and her 

 attendant swarm of emigrant workers, one of the 

 young princesses is released from imprisonment, 

 and, if the population of the hive is very dense 

 and vigorous, will in her turn depart as the 

 leader of another emigrating party. In this way 

 a really vigorous and populous stock may send 

 off three or four swarms in succession during 

 the swarming season. When the last swarm 

 has left the hive, the remaining imprisoned 

 princesses are set at liberty and allowed to fight 

 for the sovereignty of the hive. The surviving 

 princess, having established her authority by 

 combat, departs on her nuptial flight, mating, it 

 is generally believed, with a drone, or drones, 

 from other hives. Her brief honeymoon over, 

 she returns to the hive, and takes up the duties 

 of queen-mother. 



Swarming-time and marriage-time over, sum- 

 mer is well advanced, and the incoming sup- 

 plies of honey begin to diminish, warning the 

 inhabitants of the hive that they must begin to 

 economize and prepare for the winter, and get rid 

 of all useless or superfluous consumers of food. 

 The princesses being all impregnated, or des- 

 troyed by their successful rivals, the drones are 

 no longer wanted, and as they cannot perform 



