132 OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



need of new queens and kings, or a new colony is founded for them to 

 people. They are placed in the strongest and most healthful chambers 

 and receive every attention, but are not even permitted to wander 

 about the nest, which the queen would indeed be incapable of doing in 

 a very short time. She is supposed to live for several years, and during 

 this period lays innumerable eggs. The swarming of the young males and 

 females in such vast numbers is understood to be a provision for cross- 

 fertilization, as the swarming from a number of colonies takes place at 

 once, and the chances are largely in favor of males and females from 

 different colonies coming together. In the event of the death of the 

 old queen, and the failure to secure a young one after her aerial excur- 

 sion, a wingless " supplemental " pair are brought into the royal apart- 

 ments and the colony is preserved by means of their progeny, although 

 the latter are not nearly so numerous as those of the true queen. 



THE END. 



