168 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



was then, as in the case of the bees now, a clearly beneficial 

 instinct. 



For some days before swarming begins, there is a 

 great excitement and buzzing in the hive, the temperature 

 of which rises from 92° to 104°. Scouts having been pre- 

 viously sent out to explore for suitable quarters wherein 

 to plant the new colony, these now act as guides. The 

 swarm leaves the hive with their queen. The bees which 

 remain behind busy themselves in rearing out the pupae,. 

 which soon arriving at maturity, also quit the hive in 

 successive swarms. According to Biichner, ' secondary 

 swarms with young queens send out no, scouts, but fly at 

 random through the air. They clearly lack the experience 

 and prudence of the older bees.' And, regarding the 

 behaviour of the scouts sent out by primary swarms, this 

 author says : — 



M. de Fravi^re had the opportunity of observing the manner 

 in which such an examination is carried on, and with what pru- 

 dence and accuracy. He placed an empty beehive, made in a new 

 style, in front of his house, so that he could exactly watch from 

 his own window what went on inside and out without disturb- 

 ance to himself or to the bees. A single bee came and examined 

 the building, flying all round it and touching it. It then let 

 itself down on the board, and walked carefully and thoroughly 

 over the interior, touching it continually with its antennae so as 

 to subject it on all sides to a thorough investigation. The 

 result of its examination must have been satisfactory, for after 

 it had gone away it returned accompanied by a crowd of some 

 fifty friends, which now together went through the same pro- 

 cess as their guide. This new trial must also have had a good 

 result, for soon a whole swarm came, evidently from a distant 

 spot, and took possession. Still more remarkable is the 

 behaviour of the scouts when they take possession of a satis- 

 factory hive or box for an imminent or approaching swarm. 

 Although it is not yet inhabited they regard it as their property, 

 watch it and guard it against stranger bees or other assailante, 

 and busy themselves earnestly in the most careful cleansing of 

 it, so far as this cleansing is impossible to the setter up of 

 the hive. Such a taking possession sometimes occurs eight days 

 before the entrance of the swarm. 



Wars, — As with ants, so with bees, the great cause of 



