SWARMING AND HIVING. 121 



from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on 

 the ground in front of the hive. 



When a queen has emerged from her cell in the natural 

 way, the bees cut it down (PI. XIV., Fig. 47, c), till only 

 a small acorn-cup remains ; but if she met with a violent 

 end, they usually remove the whole cell. By counting 

 these acorn-cups, we can ascertain how many queens have 

 hatched in a hive. 



If the bees of the parent-stock decide to send out a 

 second colony, the first hatched queen is prevented from 

 killing the others. A strong guard is kept over their 

 cells, and as often as she approaches them with murderous 

 intent, she is bitten, or given to understand by other most 

 uncourtier-like demonstrations, that even a queen cannot, 

 in all things, do just as she pleases. 



Like some human beings who cannot have their own 

 way, she is highly oifended when thus repulsed, and 

 utters, in a quick succession of notes, a shrill, angry 

 sound, not unlike the rapid utterance of the words, 

 " peep, peep." If held in the closed hand, she will make 

 a similar noise. To this angry note, one or more of the 

 unhatciied queens will respond, in a somewhat hoarser 

 key, just as a cock, by crowing, bids defiance to its rivals. 

 These sounds, so entirely unlike the usual steady hum of 

 the bees, or the fluttering noises of unhatched queens, are 

 almost infallible indications that a second swarm will soon 

 issue. They are occasionally so loud as to be heard at 

 some distance from the hive. . About a week after first- 

 swarming, the Apiarian should place his ear against the 

 hive, in the morning or evening, when the bees are still, 

 and if the queens are " piping," he will readily recognize 

 their peculiar sounds. The young queens are all mature, 

 at the latest, in sixteen days from the departure of the 

 first swarm, even if it left as soon as the royal cells were 



