WARS OF INSECT COMMUNITIES. 329 



attempt to sting-, thrusts its weapon between the 

 scales, and the next instant its antagonist stretches 

 out its quivering wings, and expires ; for the stroke 

 of the sting, when it once penetrates the muscles, is 

 mortal. In these engagements the conqueror is not 

 always able to extricate his sting, and then both perish. 

 The duration of such duels is uncertain ; sometimes 

 it lasts an hour, and at others is very soon determined : 

 and occasionally it happens that both parties, tired 

 with their fruitless struggles, give up the contest and 

 fly off* 



Though it seems natural for bees to be industri- 

 ous, in hives ill managed or not properly supplied 

 with food, the inhabitants, instead of continuing a 

 well-constituted civil society, become a formidably 

 organized band of robbers. Schirach denominates 

 these corsair bees f; the English writers call them 

 robbers. The robbing season, according to Keys, 

 occurs sooner or later as the summer has been more 

 or less favourable ; but in general, it happens in 

 March or August. He once had a stock attacked 

 in August and again in October. When a hive de- 

 termines to commence robbing, Keys says, "they 

 send spies to discover the state of neighbouring 

 stocks. A few of the spies for several days dodge 

 about the doors, trying to get in to obtain more 

 knowledge of their strength and riches ; but are 

 driven away by the powerful stocks, who plant 

 guards at their door, and as the weak stocks do 

 not, they are therefore the first to be assaulted. The 

 next day they return in force, and begin a violent 

 siege ; and a desperate conflict ensues, both within 

 and without the hive, neither side giving quarter. 

 The stoutest warriors make a desperate attempt and 

 rush forward, and seize the queen ; knowing that, by 



* Reaumur, Mem. v. 3605. 

 t Schirach, sur la Reine des Abeilles, p. 49. 



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