NOTES ON OBSERVATORY HIVES 



67 



summer morning, when the majority of the workers are abroad and 

 only return from time to time to unload their supplies of pollen, 

 honey, and other substances. It will be found, however, that many 

 remain at home, and it is interesting to note the perfect unanimity 



and good fellowship that reigns. 

 The duties performed by the 

 workers are so manifold that it 

 would be useless to try to mention 

 a small fraction of them. We 

 would specially direct the attention, 

 however, to the comb-builders and 

 nurses, and though this is not 

 always to be seen, the behaviour 

 of the queen herself. It is said 

 that the comb-builders are of 

 slightly smaller size than the other 

 workers, but we have not been 

 able to convince ourselves that this 



is true. Of special interest is the way in which the baskets on the 

 legs of the pollen gatherers are emptied and the contents stored away. 

 It will be generally found that a "nucleus" put into an observatory 

 hive will not acquire sufficient size to swarm, though queen cells 

 may be formed, and princesses developed within them. The death 

 of these unfortunates and the rage of the queen herself which their 

 presence in the hive excites, till the workers allow her to murder 

 them, can at times be seen in an observatory hive. As soon as the 

 queen's battle cry is heard, usually towards evening, and the 

 answering challenge comes from the imprisoned princesses,* the 

 tragedy may be expected. 



* We must confess to not having ourselves heard this latter sound. 



FIGURE 186. A Nucleus Hive. 



