INSECT LIFE 205 



she may be attending to the atmosphere of the hive 

 one hour, sealing and securing the hive with propolis 

 bee cement next day. 



Yet apparently there is always something that in 

 practice is as effective as a regular division and dis- 

 tribution of labour. With a strong and healthy hive, 

 there is no danger of any of the various bee duties 

 and necessities being neglected. No orders are given 

 there is no ruler to give them ; and yet, unless some 

 disaster through sickness or deadly enemy comes upon 

 the hive, here we see efficiency in every department 

 of the State. 



I have denied the queenship or supreme authority 

 of the queen bee. There is, however, one way in 

 which she does exercise something in the nature 

 of leadership, acting perhaps on her own initiative. 

 This is when the moment comes for her to leave 

 the hive peopled by her own daughter-workers and 

 son-drones in thousands, and establish a new colony. 

 Here, it seems, the profoundly important decision as to 

 day and hour of going rest with her. There is tumult, 

 seething excitement sometimes, among her children, 

 before the event; but does not the hive, or that 

 portion of the hive which is to leave its safe home 

 and stores, wait upon her will ? The movement and 

 restlessness of the bees may affect, urge her on, but 

 nothing can be done until she leads forth. 



The full and exact story of the drones has, I 

 believe, yet to be told. Their expulsion from the hive 



