NATUBAi HISTOBY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 67 



bles one only a few days old. On the face of the comb is 

 a cell (n), just begun for the artificial rearing of a queen, 

 this being the usual position of cells built to meet some 

 unexpected emergency. To bring the points illustrated 

 into a compact compass, the cells are drawn smaller than 

 the natural size. 



I shall give, in this connection, a description of an inter- 

 esting experiment. 



A populous stock was removed, in the morning, to a 

 new place, and an empty hive put upon its stand. Thous- 

 ands of workers which were ranging the fields, or which 

 left the old hive after its removal, returned to the familiar 

 spot. It was truly affecting to witness their grief and 

 despair ; they flew in restless circles about the place where 

 once stood their happy home, entering the empty hive 

 continually, and expressing, in various ways, their lamen- 

 tations over so cruel a bereavement. Towards evening, 

 ceasing to take wing, they roamed in restless platoons, in 

 and out of the hive, and over its surface, as if in search of 

 some lost treasure. A small piece of brood-comb was 

 then given to them, containing worker-eggs and worms. 

 The effect produced by its introduction took place 

 much quicker than can be described. Those which first 

 touched it raised a peculiar note, and in a moment, the 

 comb was covered with a dense mass of bees ; as they 

 recognized, in this small piece of comb, the means of 

 deliverance, despair gave place to hope, their restless 

 motions and mournful voices ceased, and a cheerful hum 

 proclaimed their delight. If some one should enter a 

 building filled with thousands of persons tearing their 

 hair, beating their breasts, and by piteous cries, as well as 

 frantic gestures, giving vent to their despair, and could 

 by a single word cause all these demonstrations of 

 agony to give place to smiles and congratulations, the 



