MODES OF EMERGING FROM PUP.E. 33* 



We might have been led by analogy to suppose 

 that bees would adopt a similar method of extricating 

 their young; but observation shows that they do 

 not, for they break through their cocoon by means of 

 their mandibles, at the same time forcing their way 

 through the wax that is fastened down above to the 

 web and bursting it into several jagged pieces, which 

 they throw off on all sides. The other bees carry 

 these broken pieces away, and clear the cells so thor- 

 oughly as to make them quite smooth and even. 

 The male, as well as the queen bees, force their way 

 also out of their cells in the same manner as the 

 common or working .kind, and all undergo the same 

 change.* But there is one very remarkable difference 

 peculiar to the royal cocoons, first observed by the 

 elder Huber, which well merits to be mentioned. 



A hive of bees is so essentially monarchical, that 

 when more queens than one are produced they ex- 

 hibit mutual and deadly animosity, which leads them 

 to destroy one another. When there are several 

 royal pupse, therefore, in a hive, the first transformed 

 attacks the rest and stings them to death; though, if 

 these pupaB were enveloped in complete cocoons, this' 

 murder could not be perpetrated; for the silk is of 

 so close a texture, that the sting could not penetrate 

 it; and if it did, the barbs would stick fast in the 

 meshes, and the royal assailant, unable to retract her 

 weapon, would become the victim of her own fury. 

 In order, therefore, that she may destroy her rivals, 

 it is necessary for the hinder rings to remain unco- 

 vered, and on this account it is inferred the royal 

 grubs spin only imperfect cocoons, open behind, and 

 enveloping only the head, shoulders, and first ring of 

 the abdomen. 



Huber was exceedingly anxious to discover whe- 

 ther the royal grubs spun their cocoons imperfect in 

 consequence of a particular instinct, or of the greater 



*Swammerdam, vol. i, p. 187. 



