120 Insect Architecture, 



peaceably remounting their combs; order seemed re-esta- 

 blished, and we took advantage of this moment to close the 

 hive. 



" Next day, the 19th of July, we saw the rudiments of two 

 royal cells, which the bees had formed on one of the brood- 

 combs. This evening, at the same hour as on the preceding, 

 we again heard a loud buzzing in the closed hive ; agitation 

 and disorder rose to the highest degree, and we were again 

 obliged to let the swarm escape. The bees did not remain 

 long absent from their habitation ; they quieted and returned 

 as before. We remarked on the 20th that the royal cells 

 had not been continued, as would have been the case in the 

 ordinary state of things. A great tumult took place in the 

 evening ; the bees appeared to be in a delirium ; we set them 

 at liberty, and order was restored on their return. Their 

 captivity having endured five days, we thought it needless to 

 protract it farther ; besides, we were desirous of knowing 

 whether the brood was in a suitable condition, and if it had 

 made the usual progress; and we wished also to try to 

 discover what might be the cause of the periodical agitation 

 of the bees. M. Burnens (the assistant of Huber), having 

 exposed the two brood-combs, the royal cells were imme- 

 diately recognised ; but it was obvious that they had not been 

 enlarged. Why should they ? Neither eggs, grubs, nor that 

 kind of paste peculiar to the individuals of their species were 

 there ! The other cells were vacant likewise ; no brood, not 

 an atom of paste, was in them. Thus, the worms had died of 

 hunger. Had we precluded the bees from all means of sus- 

 tenance by removing the farina? To decide this point, it 

 was necessary to confide other brood to the care of the same 

 insects, now giving them abundance of pollen. They had 

 not been enabled to make any collections while we examined 

 their combs. On this occasion they escaped in an apartment 

 where the windows were shut ; and after substituting young 

 worms for those they had allowed to perish, we returned 

 them to their prison. Next day we remarked that they had 

 resumed courage ; they had consolidated the combs, and 

 remained on the brood. They were then provided with 



