Phenomena of Instinct. 159 



into nymphs, and then the cells, the building of which 

 has been going on steadily all this while, are covered 

 with lids, which are as distinctive as the cells themselves, 

 and sealed down. Before the last cell is closed the hive 

 is so crowded with workers and drones that have escaped 

 from the cells first-formed and first-closed as to make 

 swarming necessary. By this time, too, the queen is 

 ready to head the swarm, for now she is rid of the eggs 

 the weight of which, by preventing her from flying, 

 had kept her at home from the time of fertilization until 

 now. And so it is that on the first fine day the bees 

 swarm, or, in other words, depart in search of new 

 quarters with the queen at their head. 



This swarming always happens in the heat of the 

 day when the majority of the bees are abroad. A 

 march is stolen upon the absentees which necessitates 

 prompt action on their part. A queen they must have, 

 and what they want they find in the oldest inmate of the 

 royal cells. To secure the succession is the first thing 

 to be done, and in order to this, after much agitation, a 

 guard is placed over the royal cells. The legitimate 

 successor is the oldest inmate of these calls, and she, as 

 a rule, is quite ready to assume the reins of government. 

 For a time, however, she must remain in her cell under 

 guard, and under guard to some extent she is ever 

 after. Until the bees have given up the hope of seeing 

 their old queen again, that is for the greater part of the 

 next twenty-four hours, she is in strict confinement ; 

 and, when released, a constant watch has to be kept 

 over the royal cells to prevent her from breaking into 

 them and destroying their inmates. Once at liberty 

 her one desire is to destroy her sisters, and every other 

 queen that may come in her way. Unable to endure 

 the presence of a rival she must kill or be killed, and 



