WEIGHT OF BEES. 



building of their city this organisation is never for a moment lost 

 sight of. The chambers vary in number, magnitude, form, and posi- 

 tion. Those designed for the members of the royal family are few 

 and exceptional, those for the drones much more numerous, but 

 about one hundred times less numerous than those of the workers. 

 The magnitudes are in like manner strictly regulated, in relation 

 to the volume of the body of the occupant, except the royal 

 chambers to which a magnitude is given much greater in propor- 

 tion than that of the bodies of the royal tenants. The object to 

 be attained by this increased capacity, as well as by the vertical 

 position specially given to the royal cells, has not been ascertained. 



117. How little relation there exists between mere bodily 

 magnitude, and the faculties which govern acts so remarkable as 

 those of the insects now before us, will be understood when it is 

 stated that, according to the experiments of Reaumur, the average 

 weight of the bee is such that 336 go to an ounce, and 5376 to 

 a pound ; and John Hinton found that 2160 workers would not 

 more than fill a common pint. 



118. Having thus explained in a general way the persons com- 

 posing the society, and the structure and architecture of their 

 dwellings, we shall proceed to notice some of the more remarkable 

 traits of their character and manners. 



It has been already explained that the community of the hive 

 bees is strictly a female monarchy. The jealous Semiramis of the 

 hive, as Kirby observes, will have no rival near her throne. It 

 may, therefore, be asked to what purpose are the sixteen or 

 twenty princesses reared, for whom royal chambers are provided, 

 and who are treated in all respects by the nurses as aspirants to 

 the throne ? This will be comprehended, however, when it is 

 remembered that the hive, soon after the commencement of the 

 season, becomes so enormously over-peopled, that emigration 

 becomes indispensable, and that with each emigrant swarm a 

 queen is necessary. Either therefore the queen regnant must go 

 forth, abdicating the throne, in which case it is ascended by the 

 eldest of the princesses, or the latter is raised to the sovereignty of 

 the emigrating colony. Now, since a rapid succession of swarms 

 issue from the hive, especially in the early part of the season, 

 sometimes as many as four in eighteen days, and since one queen 

 is required for each, a proportionately numerous royal family is 

 required to fill so many independent thrones. 



119. When the growth of several princesses and their arrival 

 at maturity occurs, before the increase of the population renders 

 emigration necessary, so as to create thrones for them, the most 

 violent jealousy is excited in the breast of the queen regnant, 

 who is either mother or sister to these several queens presumptive, 



57 



