300 PHYSIOLOGY. 



With respect to the queen, by comparing what 

 has been said above, as to insects not dying till 

 their eggs are all matured, with what has been 



oo r 



stated in page 31 of a single sexual union serv- 

 ing to impregnate all the eggs laid for the two 

 succeeding years, it would appear that the period 

 of her existence could not, in general, be less than 

 two years ; and HUBER has proved very satisfac- 

 torily, that this is the fact : indeed he states that 

 he has known a queen live for five years. FE- 

 BURIER suspects that, like the males, the queens 

 are destroyed by the labourers, when they have 

 fulfilled their destination. The only ground of this 

 opinion, however, appears to be his having wit- 

 nessed an attack made upon a queen by six 

 labourers, from whom he with difficulty rescued 

 her. MESSRS. KIRBY and SPENCE, in like manner, 

 seem to think it not improbable that when the 

 workers become too old to be useful to the com- 

 munity, they are either killed or expelled the 

 society. Fide page 7. Reaumur also throws out 

 a hint to the same purpose. 



The length of a working bee's life has not yet 

 been ascertained ; but the general opinion is that 

 it is short-lived. BUTLER says that " the bee is 

 but little more than a year's bird ;" and some think 

 the period of its existence shorter still. " The 

 bees of the present year," says BUTLER, "will 

 retain their vigour and youthful appearance till 



