PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 397 



against their own species. From what I have said above respecting the 

 black bees 1 and their fate, it seems not improbable that, when the workers 

 become too old to be useful to the community, they are either killed or 

 expelled the society. Reaumur, who observed that the inhabitants of the 

 same hive had often mortal combats, was of opinion that this was their 

 object in these battles 2 , which take place, he observes, in fine or warm 

 weather. On these occasions the bees are sometimes so eager, that exa- 

 mining them with a lens does not part them : their whole object is to 

 pierce each other with their sting, the stroke of which, if once it penetrates 

 to the muscles, is mortal. In these engagements the conqueror is not 

 always able to extricate this weapon, and both perish. The duration of 

 the conflict is uncertain ; sometimes it lasts an hour, and at others is very 

 soon determined : and occasionally it happens that both parties, fatigued 

 and despairing of victory, give up the contest and fly away. 



But the wars of bees are not confined to single combats ; general actions 

 now and then take place between two swarms. This happens when one 

 takes a fancy to a hive that another has preoccupied. In fine warm weather, 

 strangers that wish to be received amongst them meet with but an indif- 

 ferent welcome, and a bloody battle is the consequence. Reaumur wit- 

 nessed one that lasted a whole afternoon, in which many victims fell. In 

 this case the battle is still between individuals, who at one time decide the 

 business within the hive, and at another at some distance without. In the 

 former case the victorious bee flies away, bearing her victim under her 

 body between her legs, sometimes taking a longer and sometimes a shorter 

 flight before she deposits it upon the ground. She then takes her repose 

 near the dead body, standing upon her four anterior legs, and rubbing 

 the two hinder ones against each other. If the battle is not concluded 

 within the hive, the enemy is carried to a little distance, and then dis- 

 patched. 



This strange fury, however, does not always show itself on this occa- 

 sion ; for now and then some friendly intercourse seems to take place. 

 Bees from a hive in Mr. Knight's garden visited those in that of a cottager 

 a hundred yards distant, considerably later than their usual time of labour, 

 every bee as it arrived appearing to be questioned. On the tenth morn- 

 ing, however, the intercourse ceased, ending in a furious battle. On 

 another occasion, an intimacy took place between two hives of his own, 

 at twice the distance, which ceased on the fifth day. Sometimes he 

 observed that this communication terminated in the union of two swarms: as 

 in one instance, where a swarm had taken possession of a hollow tree 3 , it 

 is probable that the reception of one swarm by another may depend upon 

 their numbers, and the fitness of their station to accommodate them. 

 Thorley witnessed a battle of more than two days' continuance, occasioned 

 by a strange swarm forcing their way into a hive. 4 Two swarms that rise 

 at the same time sometimes fight till great numbers have been destroyed, 

 or one of the queens slain, when both sides cease all their enmity and 

 unite under the survivor. 5 



1 See above, p. 359. 2 Reaum. v. 360 365. 



3 Philos. Trans. 1807, 234. 4 166. 



5 Thorley, ibid. Comp. Mills On Bees, 63. The following account of an apiarian 

 battle was copied from the Carlisle Patriot Newspaper : On Saturday last, in the 

 village of Cargo, a combat of a truly novel description was witnessed. A hive of 

 bees belonging to a professional gentleman of this city swarmed on Thursday last) 



