74 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



queens are ready to come forth in their perfect state. At 

 this time the queen-mother appears to become infuriated ; 

 she rushes to the cells of her royal offspring, and tearing 

 them open, slaughters the inmates with her sting; after 

 killing two or three, she communicates her excitement to 

 the workers, when a great portion of them, accompanied by 

 their old queen, rush from the hive and seek another home. 

 In every instance it is the original sovereign that leads the 

 first swarm, which, being placed in a fresh hive, again com- 

 mences active labours. Meantime, the Bees remaining 

 in the old hive take great care of the undestroyed cells, and 

 prevent the young queens from leaving them, except at 

 proper intervals. As soon as one of them is hatched, she 

 proceeds to attack the royal apartments; but the guards, 

 who permitted the ancient sovereign to pursue her own 

 way, do not extend the same courtesy to her successor, but 

 surrounding the cell of her rival they bite and drive her 

 off. Angry at this conduct, the little queen stands upright, 

 uttering a clear shrill sound, and no sooner is this heard 

 than the Bees remain motionless, hanging down their heads ; 

 again she attacks the cell, and is again driven away, till at 

 length, giving up the contest, she quits the hive, with a 

 second swarm. To prevent the young queens from making 



