290 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



fields, a chance cloud passing over the sun will in- 

 duce their precipitate return, though, when the sky 

 is totally overclouded, they are not deterred from col- 

 lecting, and in such a case the commencement of a 

 soft rain does not alarm them. 



" I am persuaded/' says Huber, " that the neces- 

 sity of a fine day for swarming is one reason for the 

 protracted captivity of the young queens in their cells, 

 though in some cases this appears to be quite arbi- 

 trary ; but it is always remarkably extended when 

 bad weather continues for several successive days. 

 The providential reason appears to be, that if the 

 young queens were at liberty to leave their cradles 

 during intemperate weather, a plurality of queens 

 and constant warfare between them would be the 

 consequence. Instead, therefore, of the multiplica- 

 tion of the species being left to the chance of rain or 

 fine weather, it is by the wise disposition of Provi- 

 dence rendered independent of either. By allowing 

 only a single queen to escape at once, the formation 

 of swarms is insured. Another important circum- 

 stance resulting from the temporary captivity of the 

 young queens is, that they are in a condition to fly 

 the instant they are set at liberty, and consequently 

 can take advantage of the first moment of sunshine 

 to head the emigrants*." 



At first, the queen does not alight on the branch 

 where the swarm settles, but waits till a number of 

 the bees are formed and clustered before she joins 

 them. Immediately afterwards the clustering be- 

 comes more dense, all the bees in the air hasten- 

 ing to join their companions, each clinging to one 

 another by the claws of their feet as when they 

 form a curtain during the production of waxf; 



* Huber on Bees, p. 179. 

 f See Insect Architecture, p. 119, for a figure of this. 



