The Life of the Bee 



There is one simple experiment which 

 proves the readiness with which the bees 

 will recognise their queen, and the depth 

 of the attachment they bear her. Re- 

 move her from the hive, and there Vv^ill 

 soon be manifest all the phenomena of 

 anguish and distress that I have described 

 in a preceding chapter. Replace her, a 

 few hours later, and all her daughters will 

 hasten towards her, offering honey. One 

 section will form a lane, for her to pass 

 through ; others, with head bent low and 

 abdomen high in the air, will describe 

 before her great semicircles throbbing with 

 sound ; hymning, doubtless, the chant of 

 welcome their rites dictate for moments 

 of supreme happiness or solemn respect. 



But let it not be imagined that a foreign 

 queen may with impunity be substituted 

 for the legitimate mother. The bees will 



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